HE WAS just two days from signing a new contract at his dream football club.

Then, the unthinkable happened. Keanu was diagnosed with Leukaemia.

Now, two years on, he is championing the cause to raise cash for others who have suffered like he has.

Called #KickItWithKeanu, the 14-year-old has gathered togather a team of ex-Southampton FC and Premier League stars, mixed with Southampton FC Academy players, to raise funds for or Children's Cancer Charities.

Keanu Black, a pupil at Mountbatten School, was just 12 years old when he was taken into hospital. 

His father, James Black, described the diagnosis as a "huge shock".

Keanu needed to have four bouts of chemotherapy, 60 blood transfusions and more than 100 injections on his road to recovery.

The Southampton FC goalkeeper was just two days from signing a new contract with the club he supports, but had to stop playing as he began his treatment.

During his treatment, shirts were sent from several footballers in order to lift Keanu's spirits.

This included signatures from Chelsea's Mason Mount, Everton goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, and Man City's Raheem Sterling.

At Southampton's home match against Manchester City, a message reading "Get well soon" was shown on the screen at St Mary's, James-Ward Prowse and Danny Ings visited the house and manager Ralf Hassenhuttl also signed a warm up shirt for him.

Messages were sent from teammates of Keanu with Dutch footballing legend, Marco Van Basten even sending a photo of him holding a "Stay Strong" message.

"He was very ill and it probably wasn't until he got through a couple of months of the treatment and was able to start feeling a bit better until then you really appreciate the messages that do come through," said James.

James added: "It's fantastic, it's something I wasn't sure was going to happen so to see him kick a ball in training and in matches.

"It just opens your eyes up to how lucky you are. As a parent, you get way too focussed on the child and where he's going to end up when actually you probably need to enjoy the here and now a bit more."

The match will take on a Nursling FC Vets & Friends side at the Silverlake Stadium on Friday, May 20, at 7pm.

Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for children and are available at www.eastleighfc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/kickitwithkeanu.