PHOTO: TV4 + Bildbyrån
The entire hockey world is keeping its fingers crossed for Börje Salming.
Now the friend Nicklas Lidström tells about the emotional meeting with the 71-year-old and how he feels today.
– It feels good to sit and talk to Börje, he communicates with his eyes, says “Lidas” in TV4’s Nyhetsmorgon.
Earlier this year, the hockey icon got Börje Salming the terrible news that he suffered from the incurable nerve disease ALS. Since then, the course of the disease has progressed very quickly and the 71-year-old has become drastically worse.
“Börje wants to help”
Last week it became known to the public that Salming can no longer speak and that he has become much weaker. Since then, Swedes have poured out their love and support for the legend who is struggling in his everyday life, and the hockey world has come together to keep their fingers crossed for Börje.
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The friend and former Tre Kronor teammate Nicklas Lidström has also been given an active role and will help as much as he can. “Lidas” has been appointed board member of the Börje Salming ALS Foundation by Börje and his wife Pia Salming and will help raise money for ALS research.
– Börje wants to help people in the future, that’s why he wanted to start this foundation. He thinks about people in the future, says Lidström, who is a guest on TV4’s Nyhetsmorgon on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Bianca Salming’s strong words about father Börje Salming – and her appeal to the people: “Everyone wants to, but…”
Lidström’s meeting
The former Detroit Red Wings team captain takes his mission very seriously and has recently met Börje Salming for an emotional meeting with his friend. Now he tells how the 71-year-old is doing today.
– I met Börje last week and will meet him today as well. I’m really looking forward to this, I think it’s fun to meet Börje. He doesn’t speak but he communicates with his eyes, he can write on a “toad” and also has paper and pencil with which he can communicate. It feels good to sit and talk to Börje in this way, says Lidas in the interview.
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Lidström also remembers his first meeting with the hockey icon when, as a young man, he had the chance to play side by side with one of Swedish hockey’s greatest ever – and his own childhood idol.
– I was 21 years old and we played together in the national team in the Canada Cup and I got the chance to be a teammate with Börje. He was my role model and idol growing up so it was a dream come true for me. I was very nervous to play with my idol but he made me feel very safe, says the 52-year-old in TV4.
READ MORE: Brynä’s beautiful gesture to Börje Salming – this is how the SHL club will help the former player: “Have talked to Börje”