Young Wrexham fan battling cancer receives surprise call from Rob McElhenney after player visit

A young boy who is battling a rare form of cancer received a special surprise when he shared a video call with one of Wrexham’s Hollywood owners.

Archie White, a lifelong supporter of the Red Dragons, had a heart-warming conversation with Rob McElhenney from his hospital bed while the star was filming on the set of his hit TV show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

The 12-year-old from Wrexham was recently diagnosed with myeloid sarcoma - a condition that affects less than one in a million children - and is currently undergoing treatment at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool.

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Archie, who has been a Wrexham season ticket holder since was just a baby, has received an outpouring of support from the League One club, receiving well wishes from several star players.

He was recovering from chemotherapy yesterday when he was paid an unexpected visit by striker Ollie Palmer, who said he had been moved by the youngster’s story.

The former AFC Wimbledon man spent hours at Archie's bedside, playing video games and gifting him a signed shirt, before he decided to call Wrexham’s co-owner to help lift his spirits.

Archie’s mum Sarah said he had been left amazed by the experience after McElhenney invited the family to watch a game with him when he’s next in town.

She said: “The doctors told us that Archie had cancer just before Halloween, but we only told our friends last Friday.

“We started getting video messages from the Wrexham players, because Archie is a die hard fan.

“I messaged the players just to say thank you for their messages and Ollie replied to me. He said that when he's feeling better, he’d really like to take him to the training ground and that was it.

“Yesterday was a really difficult day for Archie with his chemotherapy treatment. He's obviously been feeling really weak and tired, and he broke down. He was like, ‘why is this happening to me?’

“I went to the toilet after that and when I came out he said ‘I think that Ollie Palmer’s outside.’ Then the door opened and he just walked in, and I said, ‘What are you doing here?’

“He said Archie’s story really got to him and he had a family member who went through something similar. He stayed with us for hours and that was when he rang Rob McElhenney.”

A video of McElhenney’s call shows him introducing Archie to his Always Sunny co-stars Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton.

A loud klaxon can then be heard in the footage shared by Sarah on social media as the actor reveals they are about to start filming.

McElhenney later called back for a longer chat with Archie and showed him round the set.

In a further clip, he said: “Hey man, how are you doing? I'm sure you're not old enough to watch my show, but this is the set that we shoot on.

“We would love to have you and your family come and sit up with us in the box so we'll make sure we get your information and invite you when we're out there.”

Posting on X after the call, Sarah said: “A hard day turned very special and made even more special thanks to Ollie and an amazing FaceTime with Rob McElhenney.

“Thank you so much again, WE GOT THIS and I can’t wait to get my boy better and back to the Racecourse.”

The actor replied personally, saying: “Archie! You’re so strong! You got this. I can’t wait to see you at a match this year!”

Sarah said the whole family had been left emotional by Palmer and McElhenney's kind actions.

She said: “When Ollie left, I said to Archie, 'This is such an amazing memory and every time you have a bad day, you remember this. You are respected, and everyone is really rooting for you.'

“We were all in tears - it was just the best after such a bad day and Phil Parkinson also sent me a video message last night.

“Archie woke up this morning and he went, ‘did that really happen?’ These footballers are role models, so the fact that Ollie's done it off his own back says a lot.”

Archie initially became ill a few months ago, but his symptoms were originally attributed by doctors to him being allergic to the family’s dog. However, he later underwent scans after developing pains in his legs and a high temperature.

Sarah said: “Because Archie’s cancer is so rare, they wouldn’t normally look at all of his symptoms as signs of cancer as it wasn’t showing up in his blood, and it wasn't showing up in his bone marrow.

“They are going to make sure now that what Archie presented with is recognised as symptoms of something very serious.”

Archie is expected to spend the next six weeks in hospital, including Christmas, before undergoing a bone marrow transplant in Manchester.

Sarah said she hopes he will then be able to watch Wrexham in action once he is well enough.