David Beckham calls dying Canadian fan

[Grizzly]

JPG posted this on BigSoccer and I thought it deserved to be posted here.

David Beckham calls dying Canadian fan

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slu...rs&type= lgns

By Steve Keating

TORONTO, Jan 31 (Reuters Life!) - While the soccer world buzzed over David Beckham's $250 million signing with the Los Angeles Galaxy, the former England captain quietly stepped away from the frenzy to call a young Canadian dying of cancer.

Beckham, who has three young sons, stunned the Johnstone family of Hamilton, Ontario who picked up the phone on January 17 to hear a stranger asking to talk to their 19-year-old daughter Rebecca, a soccer player and huge Beckham fan.

Johnstone's mother, Brenda, told local newspaper the Hamilton Spectator that she informed the caller that her daughter was going through a particularly difficult time after battling cancer for three years and was sleeping.

But when the stranger, who offered to call back at a better time, revealed his identity as the world famous soccer player she rushed to wake up her daughter who badly needed a boost.

The two chatted away, according to the Spectator, with their conversation ending with Johnstone wishing the Real Madrid midfielder good luck this season.

A few days after their talk, Johnstone received an autographed Real Madrid jersey and an offer to reach out to him if ever she needed anything.

Johnstone died on Monday, January 29.

The Johnstone family told the Spectator that news of their daughter's death had reached Beckham, who passed along his regrets.

"His thoughts are with the family at this time," Beckham's spokesperson Simon Oliveira told the Spectator.

Beckham's gesture and Johnstone's brave struggle triggered an outpouring of support across hockey-mad Canada where news of her death made the front of page of sports sections and was reported on radio and television.

[Alex M]

Good to see that he doesn't believe his own hype. Very classy.

Alex

[georg]

Teen loses fight with cancer

HAMILTON (Feb 1, 2007)

A telephone call from international soccer star David Beckham buoyed Rebecca Johnstone's spirits, but it wasn't enough to save her life.

Johnstone, a 19-year-old McMaster University student who had fought through a lengthy battle with melanoma, died this week, a short time after receiving a spirit-lifting phone call from Beckham, who offered her encouragement in her struggle with cancer.

"His (Beckham's) thoughts are with the family at this time," said Simon Oliveira, a spokesperson for the Real Madrid star.

Funeral services for Johnstone will be held tomorrow in Hamilton.