A YOUNG leukaemia patient from Huddersfield is to join one of his heroes in a massive charity effort.

George Jackson, 12, will step out on a charity walk with the legendary Sir Ian Botham in a bid to help fight childhood blood cancers.

And it’s a dream come true for George, who is himself a keen cricketer.

In fact, he was at cricket practice when he was rushed to hospital for urgent treatment after his leukaemia was diagnosed.

George, of Holmbridge, joined Sir Ian at Lords to help the cricket legend launch Beefy’s Great British Walk 2012.

He was one of 12 local heroes – children with leukaemia from across the UK – who will join Beefy in each of the towns he will visit on his 14th charity walk next year.

The walk will start on April 12 and carry on to April 21.

Sir Ian will walk more than six marathons over ten consecutive days through ten towns that support live saving research into blood cancers.

In addition to the Leeds walk, he will visit cities including Newcastle, Cardiff, Manchester and London.

George will be stepping out with Beefy at the National Trust’s Nostell Priory near Leeds on Saturday, April 14. Sir Ian will walk up to 20 miles through West Yorkshire before arriving at Nostell Priory, where George and people from across the region can join him and walk to raise vital money for blood cancer charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.