Olly Murs sings duet with star-struck Hull boy

YOUNG Sam Boswell has always dreamed of becoming a singer.

But living with cystic fibrosis threatened to dash his dreams – leaving him dependent on daily medication.

Now, Sam's wish has come true after he was given the chance to sing with pop star Olly Murs on stage last weekend.

Sam, 11, was invited to London on Saturday to fulfil his dreams of meeting his idol.

The trip was organised by Rays Of Sunshine, a charity which grants wishes for seriously-ill children in the UK between the ages of three and 18.

Sam, who has always talked of being a singer, toured the capital in a limousine, stayed in a four-star hotel and watched Olly rehearse for his evening concert at Wembley Arena.

But the schoolboy, of Forbes Avenue, in Beverley Road, was left star-struck when the former X Factor finalist invited him on stage to perform a duet.

Sam, who was accompanied by his mum Frances, aunt and nine-year-old sister Lucy, said: "It was a really, really amazing weekend.

"Olly is my favourite singer in the whole world and I actually got to go on stage and perform with him.

"I practice singing every day at home and I just love it.

"I want to be a singer like Olly when I grow up."

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• Gallery: Pictures of Olly Murs with Sam Boswell at Wembley Arena

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Proud mum Frances, 43, said she was stunned by Sam's performance.

She said: "We were watching Olly do his soundcheck and then, out of nowhere, he invited Sam on to the stage.

"They performed a duet of Olly's hit song Dance With Me Tonight and Sam was absolutely amazing.

"He has never had a singing lesson, but he was so confident and his voice was so beautiful."

The pop icon thought the same as he gave Sam a signed photo that read: 'To Samuel, great singer, great duet, you're a star. Olly Murs'.

Frances, a receptionist at Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in Brough, said: "Sam and Lucy felt like stars. The whole weekend was a dream come true for us.

"We are on such a high and it seems impossible to come back down to Earth."

Sam, a student at Endsleigh Primary School in Beverley High Road, west Hull, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth.

The life-threatening illness makes it hard for him to breathe and digest food.

It also leaves him feeling weak and tired.

But Sam, a keen gymnast, doesn't let it get him down.

Frances said: "He is absolutely fantastic with it.

"He is so positive and never, ever complains.

"Sam is lucky to have some very supportive friends at school.

"They were all very jealous when he told them about his fantastic weekend with Olly."

Sam, who will start at St Mary's Sports College in Cranbrook Avenue, west Hull, in September, makes sure he keeps up with his friends' active lifestyles.

He does gymnastics, plays the viola and is part of an elementary orchestra.

But his condition means he has to spend a lot of his time at Hull Royal Infirmary in Anlaby Road, west Hull.

Frances said: "It was while we were at the hospital that some specialists encouraged us to apply to the charity.

"We only sent in the application a month ago and Sam's wish has come true already – it's amazing really.

"There certainly wasn't much sleep in our household on Friday night."

The CEO of Rays Of Sunshine Jane Sharpe said: "We were thrilled to be able to fulfil Sam's wish.

"He was a wonderful performer, completely confident and had the audience totally captivated.

"Olly Murs is an ambassador to Rays Of Sunshine and was delighted to help make Sam's wish come true.

"We hope to see Sam perform again one day."