Donations get young Welsh cancer victim here for last two matches

Scott Cullen

A rugby-mad Welsh youngster, who has been battling cancer for more than three years, arrives in Auckland today as a special visitor for the Lions tour.

Scott Cullen, 17, was given the chance thanks to a huge fundraising effort by the Auckland Welsh Club and the generosity of Aucklanders.

Scott, who was given the all-clear from leukaemia in February, will watch the Lions' last two tour matches - including the crunch final Test.

"It's taken us more than a year to raise the money so it's really exciting that he will eventually arrive," said the club's secretary, Jane Watt.

Scott played for his local rugby team in Merthyr Tydfil until he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in December 2001.

"It was the worst experience of my life," the teenager told a Welsh newspaper shortly before leaving home.

He had to endure intensive chemotherapy that made his hair fall out and he suffered shingles, pneumonia and many other infections during the three years of his illness.

But his treatment ended in February and he now says he's feeling back to normal.

Scott, his parents and twin brother, Andrew, will all attend the game against Auckland as well as the third and final Test match at Eden Park.

The trip will also include a three-week tour of the country and a four-night stopover in Fiji on the way home.

Ms Watt said the Auckland Welsh Club had raised more than $20,000 to organise the "Wings from Wales" trip.

It had been challenging but possible thanks to "many companies and people across New Zealand".