By Wayne Cousins

Six Wests Tigers players made the life of one brave young fan just a little more brighter on Sunday, August 31.

Brett Hodgson, Robbie Farah, Benji Marshall, Todd Payten, Liam Fulton and Corey Payne responded to an urgent request to attend a special event for courageous Wests Tigers fan, Brett Allen, of Liverpool.

The 17-year-old is in palliative care at Westmead Children's Hospital with leukemia. Brett recently had a bone marrow operation which proved successful but the leukemia has since returned. He fought cancer before leukemia.

With Brett's health declining, the hospital along with their charity group, Cure For Kids, and Camp Quality, put together a 'wish list' for the young man.

One of Brett's wishes was to spend time with his Wests Tigers heroes. Wests Tigers needed no prompting as the club had already been supportive of Brett throughout the year.

Payten and Fulton had visited Brett at different stages in hospital and the Wests Tigers, with the support of the Bulldogs and ANZ Stadium, arranged for Brett and his family to attend the recent double header in a catered, corporate box.

Brett was also due to attend Wests Tigers training this Tuesday to meet the entire team.

However, on medical advice, an early 18th birthday' party was arranged for Brett at Parramatta Park. His birthday falls in October.

Wests Tigers were contacted late on Saturday night about Brett's situation but moved into action the next morning when organisers ask if anything could be done for him.

With just a few hours notice, Hodgson, Farah, Payten, Fulton and Payne volunteered their time to attend the party.

It was a special effort by Marshall, who met Brett at the party just two hours after arriving back in Sydney from a quick trip to New Zealand to see his family on Saturday.

The players stayed for more than 90 minutes with Brett, sharing some rugby league tales and a few laughs with the keen fan. They also happily posed for photos and signed autographs for Brett's family and friends.

"It puts things into perspective for us as players when you see what Brett has been through,'' Hodgson said.

Alison Baker, Nursing Unit Manager at Westmead Children's Hospital, said the visit by the Wests Tigers players had lifted Brett's spirits.

"All he has been talking about is wanting the chance to see the players,'' Alison said.

"This is a tremendous gesture by Wests Tigers, particularly at short notice and on their day off. You can see just how overwhelmed Brett is by it all. The players have made a dream come true.''

Footnote: The thoughts and prayers of all at Wests Tigers are with Brett and his family during this very difficult time.