JONNY'S HERO

ENGLAND rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson has spoken for the first time of the heartache that led to him befriending a dying fan.

Wilko's friendship with 12-year-old Neil Woods was inspired by the death of his aunt Helen at the same age from the same disease - a brain tumour. When Wilko heard that Neil was fighting for life he immediately got in touch.

Jonny said: "It struck such a deep, personal chord with me. My dad lost his sister from the same disease at an early stage of his life so I knew what everyone would be going through. I contacted Neil straight away and we became friends."

Jonny was also left shattered when Newcastle Falcons team-mate Soa Otuvaka died from a brain tumour at the age of 25 in March this year. He said: " Soa was a lovely guy. The team were all shocked by his death and he's missed by us all."

But it was seeing Neil through the last few months of his life which left a lasting impression on the England hero.

"Neil's spirit and determination were breathtaking," said Jonny. "He was just on a different planet in terms of his courage and outlook on life.

"Before our home matches in Newcastle I would meet up with him and his family. It was great to be able to chat to Neil and see how excited he was.

"He just left an indelible mark on my life and, along with his family, has been inspirational to me.

"The way Neil battled through life was just staggering. He never seemed to let anything get him down."

Neil idolised Jonny. One of the boy's most prized possessions had been the photo at his bedside, signed with a special message: "To Neil, all the very best wishes my friend, take care, Jonny Wilkinson."

The last time they met, Neil was in a wheelchair after six weeks of gruelling radiotherapy treatment, but that didn't stop him joining Jonny as they sat together on the touchline watching the Newcastle Falcons. Jonny said: "It was a really wet and miserable day and I don't think Neil was feeling too great yet he still came to cheer us on." Since the youngster died, three months after his brain tumour was diagnosed, Wilko has become a huge celebrity, thanks to his World Cup-winning drop goal last year.

But he has never forgotten his young friend. He was reunited with Neil's parents, from Poppleton, near York, at a function for the Samantha Dickson Research Trust, a charity set up in memory of another young brain cancer victim. The England star is now an ambassador for the charity.

"Nothing prepares you for the death of a child," said Neil's mother Sylvia, 43, a health visitor. "I have met grieving parents in my work, and I thought I had an insight into their loss. But I didn't. I never realised how utterly devastating it is to lose a child. Jonny was a big help in keeping up his spirits. When he sent Neil a birthday card you never saw such joy - the smile on his face lit up the room!"

Neil had been a promising young rugby player for his school team and with York Under-13s. He never betrayed any signs of illness until the day he came home from a game of tennis complaining of blurred vision. After it became clear how serious his illness was his idol soon became his friend. Jonny gave his "magic boots" to Neil - and the game Neil loved is commemorated on his gravestone with a rugby ball engraved beside his name.

"It was the sport he always enjoyed," said his father Ian.

-Samantha Dickson Research Trust can be contacted on 01252 627426, www.sdrt.co.uk.

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