Teenage stroke survivor and aspiring footballer Jac Rush, from Hanworth, was thrilled to share the pitch with CB Hounslow United FC players over the weekend.
On Saturday (March 7), the 17-year-old was invited to meet the players who were sporting Stroke Association t-shirts before kick-off in support of Jac.
The team were seen shaking hands with the former AFC Hayes Academy player whose dream to become a professional footballer was taken away after he suffered a stroke in December last year.
CB Hounslow United went on to win 2-1 against Eversley & California on their home turf in Southall.
Jac was treated at Charing Cross Hospital where doctors removed part of his skull to relieve pressure on his brain. He can now only walk a few steps with assistance and his speech is very limited.
For the past three months dad Rob Rush, 45, and mum Joanne, 37, who were devastated by the ordeal, have been raising awareness of stroke in young people.
Childhood stroke affects around five out of every 100,000 children a year in the UK.
Anna Panton, Child Stroke Project Manager at the Stroke Association in London, said: “Many people think strokes only happen to older people, so a stroke in a child or teenager can come as a big shock.
"In fact, around 400 childhood strokes occur in the UK each year – that’s more than one a day.”
