A YOUNG Wirral leukaemia patient's dream came true when he was invited to take on an army obstacle course and watch guns fire.

Harvey Parker Whitby, who has Acute Lymblastic Leukaemia, always wanted to spend a day with soldiers and see guns in action.

So when the 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment Royal Artillery received a phone call from the Birkenhead schoolboys parents asking if it would be possible to grant his wish, they were more than happy to help.

The six-year-old arrived at Warcop Training Area, Cumbria with grandfather Gary just in time for bowl of range stew.

It was then on to the obstacle course, where he beat most of the new recruits taking part.

Below: Harvey tackles the course

Wirral Globe:

Wirral Globe:

Wirral Globe:

Wirral Globe:

He then went off to the Gun Position with granddad Gary, to watch guns fire.

But what he didn’t know was the he was going to fire them!

Harvey and his Grandad were sat right next to one of the guns as rounds were fired down the range (see pictures, below).

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Wirral Globe:

He was given a new Royal Artillery beret and a polished 103mm cartridge along with other gifts to take away.

A spokesman for the regiment said: "Shortly after Harvey and Gary made their way home, we received a call from Gary later that day to more … tell us how much Harvey had enjoyed his day.

"He’d slept all the way home but then run out to his friends to tell them all about his day out and show off his new beret which hadn’t left his head."

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Grandad Gary said: "He is a remarkable young man, when all his hair fell out, myself and some friends shaved our hair off to support and help him acclimatise to being bald, he has shown great courage in his battle for life, he is my greatest teacher.

"He started to buy a few toy soldiers 15 months ago and friends have donated soldiers to him, we often play war games together and Harvey gives me all the soldiers that are broke or missing body parts.

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Wirral Globe:

"When I challenged him about why all my soldiers where broke, his answer was that my soldiers were wounded or dead and that I was losing the war.

"My family want to highlighting Harvey’s condition and the thousands of other children suffering with cancer. it’s my dream to see a cure for cancer before I die."