23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Billy Gilmour 'left in tears' from girl battling cancer after she played him guitar
Billy Gilmour surprised football fan Georgie Hyslop and presented her with her Pride of Scotland award.
Footballing star Billy Gilmour said he left the hospital ward of an inspirational teenager battling cancer "in tears" after she played the guitar for him. He shared the sweet moment at tonight's Pride of Scotland awards.
The Scotland international made a surprise appearance on stage at the Glasgow event to present Georgie Hyslop with the Teenager of Courage award, alongside musician James Marriot.
Georgie, 16, from Ardrossan, Ayrshire, was given a standing ovation as she collected her prize.
Co-host Sanjeev Kohli introduced Billy as a "massive fan" of Georgie's as he came on the stage and embraced the teen.
"I just want to say how proud we are of you," Billy said.
"Of course I have known you for a couple of years now and I have came up to the hospital and visited.
"This is probably one of the most hardest stories ever. What this girl has went through and what she does day to day is incredible."
The Napoli star continued: "You'll never see her without a smile. I went and visited her and she played the guitar for me. I left the hospital in tears because of how happy she was. It was amazing to see. You deserve this, you are so strong."
In December 2023, when she was just 15-years-old Georgie went to the doctor with leg pain and they initially thought it was a stress fracture.
The fracture wasn't healing and, after an MRI and CT scan, she was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma - a rare cancer which occurs in the bones or in the soft tissue around them.
Determined not to let cancer get the better of her, Georgie immediately looked to help others by agreeing to donate her tissue to Cancer Research and vowing to fundraise.
In the months after her diagnosis she raised more than £15,000 for the Schiehallion Ward at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Marion's House.
Throughout her treatment, which included 14 rounds of chemotherapy and 33 rounds of radiation, Georgie never stopped thinking of ways to help others and continued to organise family fundays, raffles and a ball.
During her time at Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Georgie would give out 'pocket hugs' to the other patients who were waiting on scans or treatment, and even dressed up as SpiderMan to cheer up a four-year-old receiving radiation treatment.
In July 2024, Georgie was given the news she was in remission but earlier this year scans revealed her cancer had returned. Despite the cruel twist of fate, the smiley schoolgirl is continuing to raise money for others and to date has raised more than £51,000.
James Marriot added: "Georgie when I first heard your story I was in complete awe of what you've been able to achieve, the adversities you've been able to overcome.
"I would have travelled just about anyone to get the chance to meet you and have the honour of co-presenting this award to you."
