A TEENAGE boy battling cancer will walk out with his football heroes hours before starting gruelling radiotherapy.

Stephen Doyle-Owen, 13, of Nelson, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in March, will see his dream come true when he runs out as the Manchester United masc-ot before the team’s match against Liverpool, at Old Trafford, on Sunday.

But the next morning he will be brought back down to earth as he begins 16 days of radiotherapy at Christie Hospital, Manchester.

The Pendle Community High School pupil has already undergone five months of chemotherapy at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

His mum, Mary Owen, said the treat would be a welcome distraction from his health problems.

She said: “He’s very excited about being the mascot on Sunday.

"He’s a Liverpool supporter, but he’s going to be the Manchester United mascot because he’s doing it on behalf of Christie Hospital.

“He will have his photograph taken with the team and he gets to keep the kit. He’s over the moon.”

Stephen, of Carr Road, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which is a cancer originating from white blood cells called lymphocytes, by his family doctor who was examining the youngster following an asthma attack.

The youngster, who has learning difficulties, does not fully understand what he is going through, his mum added.

Mary said: “He has just gone with the flow. He has his good days and his bad days.

"The prognosis is very good, but Stephen may not get the all clear for up to five years.”

Today Stephen will be given another treat when Mike Rickards, 51, who met the teenager and his family by chance in the Station Hotel pub, takes him for a ride from Nelson to Skipton on the back of his Honda Shadow VT600 motorcyle.

Mike, 51, said he felt inspired to do something nice for Stephen after his story ‘touched a nerve’.