For those in the crowd watching the England-Greece match at Old Trafford last month, there was one image that will remain etched on their memory for good. It was that of six-year-old Kirsty Howard walking out onto the field, proudly holding the hand of her hero, David Beckham. The tiny girl’s progress was hindered by the oxygen cylinder and the length of tubing she trailed behind her to allow her to breathe.

The famous midfielder, moved to tears by Kirsty and her courage, dedicated his last-minute wonder goal, which secured a two-all draw with Greece, to Kirsty, who is dying from a rare heart condition. “We did it for her,” he ventured after the game. “She’s an inspiration.”

“There is not a grain of self-pity in her,” marvels Royle Family and former Brookside actress Sue Johnston, who has struck up a friendship with Kirsty. “You wouldn’t think she was ill sometimes because she has such a remarkable spirit.”

Sue is patron of the Rainbow Family Trust, the funding body which was set up to support Francis House, where Kirsty is a regular resident. As next door neighbour and longtime friend of Susie Mathis, the founder of the Rainbow Family Trust, Sue had little choice but to become involved with the charity.

To read more about Sue Johnstone’s amazing friendship with brave little Kirsty and how they hope to raise the much needed funds for the hospice see this week’s HELLO! magazine, on sale now.