Boy wants to play with Luke Littler 'before it is too late'

A mum whose son has a life-limiting muscle condition has said he wants to play darts with his "hero" Luke Littler "before it is too late".

Eleven-year-old Harry, from Bamber Bridge, Preston, loves darts and previously played for Blackburn Youth Darts Academy but had to give up playing there recently as his condition has deteriorated.

Harry has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) a muscle wasting condition that causes progressive muscle weakness, usually only affecting males, according to NHS Inform. His older brother and his uncle also have the condition.

"He would love to play his darts hero Luke Littler before it's too late," his mum Leanne said. "It's on his bucket list".

Leanne is hoping to surprise Harry by setting up a game with the Warrington star to cheer him up after the pain of playing for hours in his junior academy has become too much.

She said it "breaks my heart" as darts has kept him going through his struggles.

"Littler means the absolute world to him,"Leanne added.

The mum is appealing on social media for World Darts Champion Luke Littler to play a leg with her son while he is still able to throw a dart.

She said since Littler burst on to the scene, he is "everywhere" in their house.

His bedroom is plastered with posters of the world number one and he is his screensaver on his tablet, she said.

"Harry has watched all of his matches and cried when he first saw him lose," she said.

"He means the absolute world to him. Harry looks up to him and he inspired him to play himself.

She said he was over the moon to meet his hero briefly last year when Littler signed his shirt during the World Matchplay Darts event at Blackpool's Winter Gardens.

"His dream is to play him," she said.

Leanne added her son was now struggling to play now and it was "now or never - before it is too late".

Arron Taylor of Derian House Children's Hospice, which supports Harry and his family said: "Anyone who knows Harry knows there's one thing guaranteed to get him smiling... darts.

"He's absolutely obsessed. We've loved seeing him throw himself into the sport, joining Blackburn Youth Darts Academy and even winning his first tournament.

"But as Harry's condition has progressed, it's become much harder for him to play the game he loves."

Taylor said it would "mean the world" to Harry to have a game with Littler.

"We'd all love to see it happen because we know just how much it'd mean to him and his family. It's something they will never forget."

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