PHOTO: Twitter
Börje Salming suffers from the disease ALS – something that also former teammate Mark Kirton does.
When Salming was recently celebrated in Toronto, Kirton was also present.
The images that were then wired out are something very special.
Then the message about Börje Salmings illness came, he has been praised by the entire hockey world – both at home in Sweden and in Canada and Toronto. Former Toronto Maple Leafs teammate, Mark Kirtonhe too has suffered from ALS and knows exactly what Salming is currently going through.
The words about Börje
Kirton has previously directed criticism at Sweden’s way of handling Salming’s medication since the medication was stopped in Swedish customs.
– I hope customs read about how Salming is doing. Stopping medicine for such a national hero – they should be ashamed, Kirton has previously said in an interview with Expressen.
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When Börje Salming was present in Toronto a couple of weeks ago to receive tributes from his former home audience, Mark Kirton was also present. The two battled together at the club in the early 1980s, and during Salming’s visit to Toronto, they met again in an emotional moment to say the least.
READ MORE: Börje Salming’s completely unknown gift to the Women’s Crowns – which changed Swedish hockey forever
Emotional meeting
In a video that Mark Kirton himself published on Twitter, you can clearly see how much the meeting means to both of them when the emotions overflow at the same time as Kirton tells Salming to “keep being strong”, see the video further down.
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Kirton was diagnosed with ALS in 2018, and has since given his support to Börje Salming and his family.
– We talked about how difficult it is for the family. The family becomes an extension of oneself, as well. It’s not you who has ALS, it’s something that affects the whole family. But it is so important to have family around you, he says.
READ MORE: The hockey icons completely agree: Want to give Börje Salming the most powerful tribute – the likes of which Sweden has never seen before
“Real Warriors”
As recently as last week, Börje Salming was honored at the “Hockey Gala of the Times”, where he received an award from the NHL as well as the award for “The Moment of the Times”. All before a standing ovation and tributes from all of hockey Sweden.
The hockey heroes’ meeting has also sparked strong reactions on Twitter.
“Mark and BJ are two true warriors,” writes one user.
“My heart is breaking from this,” writes another.
Watch the video: