Everton players visit cancer girl

Anna's father, Eddie, kick-started arrangements for the visit

A seven-year-old girl, who urgently needs a bone marrow transplant to treat a rare cancer, has been visited by players from her favourite soccer team.

Anna Culshaw met Everton's David Weir, Kevin Kilbane and Leon Osman at her home in Carrog, Denbighshire.

Her condition stops her bone marrow making enough red blood cells, and she needs regular blood transfusions.

Anna's family hoped the visit would raise awareness of the illness and encourage a donor to come forward.

Eddie Culshaw, Anna's father, was responsible for putting the wheels in motion for inviting defender Weir, Ireland international Kilbane and midfielder Osman.

I watch them on telly... then they're here right next to you and you are thinking 'Oh, my God!' Anna Culshaw's brother, Joe

"Through a contact who knows somebody at Everton they kindly arranged for some players to come out and visit Anna," he said.

"It keeps it in the frontline of the news so, hopefully, we can keep raising awareness and get more bone marrow donors through."

Although Anna often suffers from tiredness because of her illness - myelodisplasia - a blood transfusion last week helped give her more energy to enjoy meeting her heroes.

Joe showed Leon Osman and David Weir his post-covered bedroom

However, the only hope for a cure is to replace her own bone marrow with that of a donor so her body would then function properly.

The visit was also a special occasion for Anna's brother, Joe, who showed the players around his bedroom, which was covered with Everton posters.

"I watch them on telly and I wish I was like them, and then they're here right next to you and you are thinking 'Oh, my God!'," said Joe.

As well as being given Everton strips by the players, Anna and Joe also received signed pictures of the soccer stars before they headed back to Liverpool.