Ed Sheeran has delighted a terminally ill fan by wearing one of her charitable bracelets while performing in front of thousands of fans during his current Divide tour.
Sian Reeds, who was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour in 2018, met the singer-songwriter on her 16th birthday after being invited backstage ahead of his performance at Roundhay Park in Leeds.
The teenager, from Portsmouth, has created her own ‘smile’ bracelets to generate funds for cancer sufferers, and she was thrilled after Sheeran asked to wear one for his entire set.
What a guy: Ed Sheeran has delighted young fan Sian Reeds by wearing one of her charitable bracelets while performing in front of thousands of fans during his current tour
The bracelet was visible on the 28-year old’s wrist as he worked performed his biggest hits for an audience of 150,000 fans during one of two performances at the Leeds venue in August.
Sian had drawn up a bucket list after being diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), following an eye-appointment, and meeting Sheeran was one of her ultimate goals.
The meeting was arranged after her sister Rhiannon, 19, messaged Sheeran’s manager Stuart Camp on Instagram and arranged for her to go backstage.
What a guy: Ed met the teenager on her 16th birthday ahead of his performance at Roundhay Park in Leeds
Say cheese: Sherean posed with Sian, who was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour in 2018, and her family backstage at the venue
Proud moment: The teenager, from Portsmouth, has created her own ‘smile’ bracelets to generate funds for cancer sufferers, and she was thrilled after Sheeran asked to wear one for his entire set
Doctors had previously suggested Sian might be too unwell to make the concert, but she was determined to watch her idol and travelled to West Yorkshire with her parents, Rhiannon and younger sister Tesia, 14.
Sian’s mother Helen, 39, came up with the idea of selling bracelets two months ago to raise money for The Indee Rose Trust, a brain tumour charity which has supported Sian, and since then the family have sold around 6,000, raising around £9,000.
The rubber bracelets, which have the words ‘Smile – DIPG Warrior’ written on them, come in different colours including purple, Sian’s favourite.
Dream come true: Sian had drawn up a bucket list after being diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), following an eye-appointment, and meeting Sheeran was one of her ultimate goals
Speaking of the concert, her father Matthew, also 39, said: ‘It was surreal, and brilliant for Sian. We were on Ed’s VIP guestlist and were backstage with his manager when Ed suddenly popped in out of nowhere.
‘Ed gave my wife and I a cuddle and then had a chat with Sian about music and took selfies with her.
‘He was very humble, and asked about her bracelet and then wore it for the whole show – he didn’t have to do that. It made Sian tear up. She can’t stop talking about it.
Sian watched the show with her family from a special seating area on a raised platform at the venue.
Last year Sian was told she had six to 12 months to live, however she has impressed doctors with her progress and currently the tumour is stable.
In January this year Sian underwent radiotherapy and has responded well to treatment, with her aggressive tumour shrinking and stabilising since then.
Well done: Sian also ticked off raising £2,200 for charity by skydiving and gaining three ‘5’ grades in her GCSEs despite missing 90 per cent of her lessons
Matthew added: ‘They don’t really know what is going on. The tumour is stable at the moment but it can change at any moment. Sian just keeps setting herself goals which is keeping her going.’
The popular and talented girl proved her determination days after she was told she had cancer by winning a gymnastics competition, which was also on her bucket list.
Sian also ticked off raising £2,200 for charity by skydiving and gaining three ‘5’ grades in her GCSEs despite missing 90 per cent of her lessons.
Sheeran will step away from the spotlight in order to spend more time with wife Cherry Seaborn after completing his current tour,