The Daughter of a Late Chiefs Superfan Was Invited to a Fan Event. What Happened Next Left Her ‘Speechless’ (Exclusive)

The daughter of a late Kansas City Chiefs superfan has been bowled over by a surprise from the team.

Thea Lawson, 30, who works as a doctor in London, lost her dad Peter Lawson in November 2023 after he was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer in the spring of 2022 at the age of 62. 

Peter “fell in love” with the Chiefs and their quarterback Patrick Mahomes a few years before his passing, and Thea tells PEOPLE her father found watching Chiefs games live during the long nights of chemotherapy, pain and anxiety “a great source of company and comfort.”

“I would wake up the morning after each game with a play-by-play analysis,” she says. “What started as learning the sport through a sense of solidarity, quickly turned into my favorite shared activity together — as well as dragging my mother into things!”

Eighteen months after her dad’s death, Thea was contacted by the Chiefs as the team were launching their U.K. marketing campaign and were looking for fans based there to attend a May kickoff event. 

“They had heard about my story and my Dad through the grapevine, and with not many other details attached I thought, why not!” Thea says. 

However, what happened net left her in shock.

“I expected to be one of many fans there that day and thought I may be lucky enough to walk away with a cap or a T-shirt. When I arrived, it became quickly apparent that I was the only fan there.” 

Ugo Monye, a former English rugby international who also loves the NFL, was on hand to deliver the surprise alongside Chiefs EVP and Chief Media and Marketing Officer Lara Krug. The team explained that Monye, 42, wanted to hear more about Thea and her story.

“Whilst chatting, he randomly tells me that Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown has a message for me,” Thea tells PEOPLE. “He told me that as a token of appreciation for our long-distance support they want to fly me and my mom out to a game this coming season!”

“I was completely speechless and taken aback,” Thea tells PEOPLE. “My mom was predictably shocked, too, bursting into tears the moment I called her!”

“The event timing coincided around Dad’s birthday, and I find this time of year quite difficult. I almost didn’t even attend the event, but felt a little voice telling me that I should show up!” she adds.

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“This has been undoubtedly the best thing to happen to us as a family since Dad passed, and there is of course still a sense of bittersweetness,” Thea continues.

“I know he would be beside himself with excitement, and is of course the first person I would want to call with the news, but I also know that it wouldn’t have been possible if events hadn’t unfolded as they did.”

Chiefs EVP and CMO Krug tells PEOPLE of surprising Thea in London, “There’s nothing more rewarding than giving back to the fans who make Chiefs Kingdom so special — it’s about creating unforgettable moments and sharing the magic of gameday together.”

Thea and her mom Karen Lawson are planning to head out to Missouri in the fall and hope to spend a few days exploring all that Kansas City has to offer, before getting the full Chiefs gameday experience at Arrowhead Stadium.

“Mom has her eye on a tailgate party!,” Thea tells PEOPLE, before adding, “I would love to go to either a Raiders or Eagles game.”

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“I would have loved to watch a game at the Arrowhead with my Dad, but unfortunately it was a trip too far,” she adds. “He fought long enough to watch their back-to-back Super Bowl wins, and that’s something I’m very grateful for! I now continue to watch the games myself, and it is my favorite way to feel close to Dad when I’m missing him.”