Clarets ace Danny meets his match with FIFA star Lewis

The Clarets striker called to see 11-year-old Lewis Taylor, who is suffering from a rare form of cancer, and left the young fan beaming from ear to ear.

Not only did Danny spend time playing FIFA 14 on the Playstation, but he also promised the youngster a season ticket if he won. Two games later a victorious Lewis is looking forward to seeing the Clarets at every home game in the Premier League next season.

Lewis had just started at Unity College last September when he was struck down by rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissue that affects fewer than 60 children in the UK each year. But Lewis’s cancer is in his thumb and there is only one other person in the world with the same condition it is so rare.

He underwent surgery to remove a tumour at Birmingham Children’s Hospital in May and is currently undergoing radiotherapy. He then faces many more weeks of tests and chemotherapy.

So after months of pain and uncomfortable treatment a visit from his favourite Claret was just the tonic he needed.

His sister Kellie (26) said: “Danny was amazing. This was just what Lewis needed after all these months of suffering. It’s been really hard for him and today has made him feel so much more positive.”

The impromptu visit to Lewis at his home in Todmorden Road, Burnley, came about through Danny’s friend and personal trainer Jamie Kennedy, who is a childhood friend of Kellie having grown up together in Woodgrove Road.

Kellie said: “I mentioned Lewis to Jamie and he said he would sort something. The next thing we knew Danny was knocking on the door. We can’t thank Jamie enough for doing this.”

Lewis lives with his parents Susan and Gary and also has siblings Kay and Gary. Kellie said: “Danny played on the Playstation 4 in Lewis’s bedroom for about an hour. He promised Lewis he could choose the prize if he won and Lewis chose a season ticket because he was too poorly to go on the Turf all last season and he is a massive fan.

“He was a bit overcome at first but then Danny made him the envy of his friends when he Skyped them all. He was amazing. Lewis was so overcome he didn’t know what to say, but when Danny tweeted about the visit and put his picture on Twitter he was thrilled.

“The surgeons are really positive about Lewis now and we are hoping for the best. We can’t thank Danny enough for giving him a dream day.”