Ryan Jack delighted a young Rangers fan who defied the odds to beat cancer by spending an evening with the youngster.
Back in April we told how Daven Milne, 12, was over the moon when the Ibrox star picked him out of a crowd of 50,000 Gers supporters after the side’s win against Braga in the Europa League to gift him his shirt. The schoolboy, from Newton Mearns in East Renfrewshire, was diagnosed with the very rare pleomorphic undifferentiated primitive sarcoma after his mum Tracy spotted a small lump on his neck shortly after his second birthday in January 2012.
This year he celebrated 10 years in remission and the little season ticket holder never misses a match at Ibrox. Jack, completely unaware of Daven's previous cancer battle, picked the brave youngster out of the crowd at the end of the quarter-final tie - and after being contacted by the Record, Rangers offered to arrange a meet and greet so he could get the jersey signed by his favourite player.
On Thursday night the pair finally linked up at Mar Hall in Bishopton, in an evening that was kept a total surprise from Daven.
His mum Tracy told the Record: "Daven was absolutely delighted, he was totally overwhelmed. It was a surprise. We didn't tell him where he was going. We just picked him up from football training and told him his dad was going to meet somebody.
"He had no absolutely idea. It was a brilliant evening. Jack spent an hour and a half with Daven and his brother Rory which was amazing."
Daven was touch and go after his diagnosis with his worried family fearing the worst - but after 25 weeks of chemotherapy and 29 blasts of proton therapy, Daven made a miracle recovery.
John O'Byrne, who has his own foundation which supports children in Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children, knew Daven from his time at Yorkhill Hospital and is friends with Ryan Jack.
Tracy, 42, said: "I got a message from John and I explained we hadn't heard back from Rangers yet, so he said he'll sort it for us since he was good friends with Jack.
"They were playing in the European games then were away for summer so this was it just getting organised.
"Jack came in the back and we came in the front so we didn't clash and Jack hid in the room before we arrived."
In a heartwarming clip, John can be seen asking Daven about his love for Rangers and Jack giving him his shirt, before he says: "We've got a surprise for you. There is someone that wants to meet you there on the left hand side."
Daven and his brother Rory then walk into a room and are totally overwhelmed as they see Jack standing there with a present in his hand.
The pair give the Ibrox star a high-five before Jack signs his shirt and they sit down for the evening.
Mum-of-three Tracy said: "It was really relaxed and laid back. They had some drinks and were just chatting, having a laugh while Daven asked for football tips.
"The boys had loads of questions for them and he gave Daven a full Rangers tracksuit and signed his strip for him which was really nice. Jack asked about Daven's treatment and he told him what he had been through.
"We asked him why he ran towards Daven, and he said he didn't know. He said he just turned around and - even though there was thousands of kids there - he just ran towards him.
"Jack agreed that is was surreal that he picked him out of the crowd when he didn't know Daven and what he had been through, but he said he was so happy, now he's been told, that he chose him.
"It was a brilliant night. It made Daven's day and he's been delighted ever since."
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