RADCLIFFE youngster Beth Morris has been keeping her fingers crossed for Olympic swimmer Adrian Turner from Prestwich.

The eight-year-old, who has battled leukaemia, asked Adrian to bring back a medal from Athens -- just for her.

But Adrian's glory bid came to an end when he finished last in the semi-finals of the 200m medley on Wednesday.

After failing to qualify on Saturday in the 400m medley, this was Adrian's last chance to fulfil the wish of his new pal.

Beth, of Hollow Meadow, Ringley, met Adrian, 27, through the National Blood Service due to her illness.

Adrian needed repeated blood transfusions after being struck down with a rare illness in 1999, but battled back to full fitness to support the organisation that helped save his life.

Adrian's mum, Joyce, who runs Rainsough Filling Station in Hilton Lane, Prestwich, with her husband, Roger, said: "Beth is Adrian's inspiration at the moment. She made him a beautiful good luck card and wrote him a poem.

"The card is 2ft wide, which I think he managed to fit in his suitcase, and at the end of the poem Beth wrote: 'Bring a medal back, but bring it back for me'."