This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/8168193.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Cancer boy's support for Hartson | Cancer boy's support for Hartson |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A teenager who five years ago was supported by striker John Hartson through a battle with cancer is now trying to help the footballer. | A teenager who five years ago was supported by striker John Hartson through a battle with cancer is now trying to help the footballer. |
| The former Arsenal, Celtic and Wales star is critically ill in hospital as he fights cancer diagnosed this month | The former Arsenal, Celtic and Wales star is critically ill in hospital as he fights cancer diagnosed this month |
| Cai Davis from Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, was helped by Hartson when he had a brain tumour. | Cai Davis from Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, was helped by Hartson when he had a brain tumour. |
| Now in remission, he is sending his support to the player who befriended him and even made Cai a Wales mascot. | Now in remission, he is sending his support to the player who befriended him and even made Cai a Wales mascot. |
| Hartson first called football loving Cai and told him he would get through the illness when the cancer struck. | |
| He signed football shirts for the teenage and made a big fuss of him when in 2005 he walked out with Hartson as a mascot for Wales. | He signed football shirts for the teenage and made a big fuss of him when in 2005 he walked out with Hartson as a mascot for Wales. |
| I know and I'm sure his family and friends know that he'll get through this Cai Davies | I know and I'm sure his family and friends know that he'll get through this Cai Davies |
| "He went round and had a Welsh national tee shirt signed for me and that was a great feeling, " the teenager remembered. | "He went round and had a Welsh national tee shirt signed for me and that was a great feeling, " the teenager remembered. |
| Support | Support |
| But earlier this month the 34-year-old father-of-three, who was capped by Wales 51 times, was confirmed to have testicular cancer which had spread to his brain and lungs. | But earlier this month the 34-year-old father-of-three, who was capped by Wales 51 times, was confirmed to have testicular cancer which had spread to his brain and lungs. |
| He is undergoing treatment in Swansea's Morriston hospital, where he is in a critical but stable condition. | He is undergoing treatment in Swansea's Morriston hospital, where he is in a critical but stable condition. |
| Goodwill messages have come from all quarters and among them is one from the teenager he gave such an important boost to and who now says he is "heartbroken" about his hero's illness. | Goodwill messages have come from all quarters and among them is one from the teenager he gave such an important boost to and who now says he is "heartbroken" about his hero's illness. |
| "He doesn't deserve this. He must be feeling down, ill, upset and he probably feels like it is the end of the world. | "He doesn't deserve this. He must be feeling down, ill, upset and he probably feels like it is the end of the world. |
| "But I know, and I'm sure his family and friends know, that he'll get through this." | "But I know, and I'm sure his family and friends know, that he'll get through this." |
| Cai has now sent Hartson a letter telling him he is looking forward to having a chat with him soon, and that he is thinking about him. | Cai has now sent Hartson a letter telling him he is looking forward to having a chat with him soon, and that he is thinking about him. |
| • Welsh football supporters will take on their Scottish counterparts in a charity match in Cardiff on Saturday to show support for Hartson. | • Welsh football supporters will take on their Scottish counterparts in a charity match in Cardiff on Saturday to show support for Hartson. |
| The game kicks off at 1500 BST at Llanishen Leisure Centre. | |
| They have set up a donation page at http://www.justgiving.com/wales-scotland. |