LITTLE Saints fan Joe Cowin was handed a mighty lift in his battle against cancer when he met a pack of rugby aces including his heroes Sean Long and Paul Sculthorpe.

Eight-year-old Joe has been fighting cancer for the past year since having a brain tumour removed. He endured weeks of radiotherapy and is still undergoing chemotherapy, but doctors are hopeful he is now on course to make a full recovery.

Throughout his fight with the disease Joe, a pupil at St Teresa's primary, Eccleston, has astonished family and friends with his bravery.

So, as a treat, ladies from Eccleston Bowling club's Sunday bingo team arranged a surprise visit from a bunch of Super League stars. They included his hero, Saints scrum-half Sean Long, who presented Joe with the t-shirt he wore at the Cardiff Challenge Cup Final win, and skipper Paul Sculthorpe who gave the lad a signed Saints ball.

Leeds hard-man Barrie McDermott, his pal and Wigan prop Terry O'Connor and Warrington's Lee Briers also came along with rugby goodies.

Joe's mum, Andrea, 33, said: "It was a wonderful day for Joe. He is doing really, really well and has always kept a smile on his face and been a star."

Throat cancer

Independent Saints Supporters Association liaison officer, Linda Edwards, 46, helped organise Joe's meeting with the players. She is herself battling against throat cancer and met Joe when she went for treatment at Clatterbridge Hospital.

Linda, also a member of the bingo club, said: "I met Joe when I started going to Clatterbridge for treatment earlier this year. When I was going in for radiotherapy he explained all about what happened.

"It makes you realise that if kids go through something like that, then so can you. He was an inspiration to me."