Teenage cancer sufferer befriended by Ryan Giggs loses his battle for life

Giggs took United fan Levi Henson and his family out for dinner and gave him gifts after being moved by his story

Tributes have been paid to a young Manchester United fan who has lost a fight with cancer.

Levi Henson, who has battled the disease all his life, was 13.

He was an ardent United fan and the club and fans paid a special tribute to him during the Capital One Cup clash with Sunderland. A charity single, recorded in his name, was played at half-time and a balloon released.

United legend Ryan Giggs, who is a patron at East Cheshire Hospice, was moved by Levi’s battle and donated tickets for October’s game with Southampton to Levi and his family. He later took them out for a meal  and presented Levi with a signed shirt and footballs.

Levi’s dad Tony Leight said his son was thriled to meet Giggs: “The smile on Levi’s face hadn’t  been seen in months. Ryan was fantastic and spent three hours with us, posing for photographs and signing shirts. We can’t thank him enough for his generosity and support.”

Levi, from Milton Keynes, was diagnosed with retinal cancer when he was one. He lost his left eye and was given the all-clear.

But last September he was diagnosed with bone cancer. He passed away on Tuesday. Details of Levi’s dinner date with Giggs were printed in the programme for the Sunderland cup game.

Friend of the family Reuben-James Fiander, known as Soul Urban Poet, recorded the charity single called Stronger – Levi Henson’s Project. The track is available on iTunes and Amazon, with all proceeds going to the Levi Henson Project. The appeal will continue in Levi’s memory.