IT'S every young rugby fan's dream to run on to the pitch at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium as a mascot for the Welsh team.

For 12-year-old Rhys Wilson that dream came true on Saturday at the start of the Wales v South Africa match.

It was just one of a number of special moments which Rhys will treasure. He has also met the Welsh football team and, only a fortnight ago, travelled to Manchester to meet the Manchester United players.

He was delighted to join his favourite group Busted backstage when they played at Singleton Park, Swansea, in August and has a signed poster from them.

He has enjoyed a flight over Pembrokeshire, with Haverfordwest businessman John Green, and has received pictures and baseball caps from Formula One stars Michael Schumacher and Reubens Barrichello.

The treats have been organised by family and friends of Rhys, who was diagnosed with cone rod dystrophy in April. The genetic disease affects cells and will soon make him blind. A special fund has also been set up for him.

Rhys lives with his mother and stepfather, Diane and Simeon Gregory, and sisters Molly, aged 18 months, Amelia, five, and Laura, eight, at 18 Lamboro Crescent, Clarbeston Road, and also spends time with his father Guy Wilson, in Port Talbot.

Rhys is a pupil at Sir Thomas Picton School, Haverfordwest, where he receives one-to-one tutoring. He is learning Braille and to touch type on his laptop computer.

STILL on cloud nine after his experience at the Millennium Stadium, Rhys said: "Everyone has been fantastic since they heard about my illness."

Rhys' family think he is fantastic.

His mother Diane gave birth to Molly prematurely, at only 27 weeks into her pregnancy. The little girl spent four months in hospital.

The family had to cope with more trauma in February. Molly had breathing difficulties and it was found she had a growth near her vocal chords and needs laser treatment. And Diane's mother has had a stroke.

"It was such a worrying time and Rhys was like a rock for us. We knew he had problems seeing the blackboard, but didn't realise there was something seriously wrong until we took him to the optician in April. We thought at first he might have a brain tumour, but he was sent to Bristol and it was diagnosed that he had cone rod dystrophy."

"It has been very difficult, but Rhys has been holding us together. He has been so strong," added Diane. "Rhys and all the family including his grandmothers - Mary Wilson, of Haverfordwest, and Joan Lavis, of Clarbeston Road - say a big thank-you to everyone who has provided the treats for Rhys and raised money for him."