West Yorkshire brain cancer survivor meets his beloved Leeds United and becomes their latest match mascot

12-year-old brain cancer survivor, Leighton Moorhouse from Birstall, West Yorkshire, had his wish come true when Children with Cancer UK arranged a special visit to meet his beloved football team, Leeds United, and his favourite player, Patrick Bamford, at the club’s training ground at Thorp Arch in October last year. He was then invited to be a mascot for a home game this January at Elland Road against Sheffield Wednesday.

At the Leeds United training ground, Leighton got to meet players as they went out to the pitch. Children with Cancer UK arranged a special meeting with Leighton’s favourite player Patrick Bamford, who gave Leighton a signed shirt and invited him to be a mascot at a home game. Leighton was joined by his family, who are all dedicated Leeds United supporters, at the Sheffield Wednesday match in January.

Leighton said:

It was a privilege! I felt proud to be given the opportunity through Children with Cancer UK to walk on to the pitch with the team captain of Leeds United and celebrate the day with a win!! MOT (Marching On Together).

The opportunity to meet his favourite football team was particularly emotional for Leighton’s family as he was given the all clear from cancer last year. Leighton was diagnosed with large cell/anaplastic medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer, when he was just six years old. He underwent emergency surgery that left him unable to walk or talk, which meant he had to spend five months on the neurology ward at Leeds General Infirmary re-learning these abilities. Leighton also underwent aggressive treatment, undergoing 30 rounds of radiotherapy and four rounds of chemotherapy to stabilise his condition.

Leighton’s father, Phil Moorhouse shared:

When Children with Cancer UK told me that Leeds United had invited Leighton to Thorp Arch to meet the team and his favourite player, I felt extremely blessed. Leighton has faced his cancer diagnosis like a true Leeds warrior. I am so thankful for this amazing charity and to Leeds United, who have made my boy’s dreams come true.

Leighton is one of the eight cancer survivors featured in Children with Cancer UK’s documentary ‘Kids Like Us’, which follows the extraordinary lives of these remarkable young people who are facing the unimaginable: living with cancer. The childhood cancer charity created the film with the hope of changing the way paediatric cancer, and the issues that surround it, are viewed.

Amar Naher, Interim CEO for Children with Cancer UK, said:

We support young people and their families through every step of their cancer journey. This was an amazing opportunity to help provide lasting memories for Leighton and celebrate his five years. We know how much Leeds United means to him, and we also know how hard it’s been for Leighton and his family to go through his cancer diagnosis and treatments.

We want to say a big thank you to Leeds United for their incredible support in making this happen. Also, a special thanks to Patrick Bamford for making Leighton feel extra special. Their generosity and hospitality have been truly inspirational.

You can watch Leighton’s story in the ‘Kids Like Us’ documentary, which is available on Sky and NowTV.

About Children with Cancer UK:

Children with Cancer UK is the leading children’s cancer charity in the UK. Our vision is a world where every child and young person survives their cancer diagnosis. Our mission is to improve survival rates and the quality of survival in young patients, and to find ways to prevent cancer in the future. We are dedicated to raising and investing funds into vital research that helps us understand childhood cancers and improves treatments. We support families as they navigate treatment and life beyond cancer. What began as a small memorial charity in 1988, has evolved into a leading childhood cancer charity raising more than £300 million and investing in over 300 pioneering research projects.

Press Enquiries:

For all press enquiries, please email media@childrenwithcancer.org.uk or call 0800 222 9000 and ask for the media team.