Seriously ill teen set for dream Taylor Swift date after another Swiftie did something amazing

Kind strangers have rallied together to gift VIP Taylor Swift concert tickets to a cancer patient after her own tickets were withdrawn without warning. Mali Edge, a 14-year-old Swiftie from Colwyn Bay in Conwy, had been given charity tickets for the US popstar's concert at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool on Friday, June 14.

The teen was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare type of brain tumour found in children, last November. The tickets were donated to a charity, who then contacted Christie Hospital in Manchester, where Mali has had treatment.

Staff at the hospital nominated Mali to receive the tickets, because they remembered she would listen to Taylor Swift's music before her treatment sessions there, reports North Wales Live. Her consultant even agreed to change her chemotherapy schedule so she could attend the show.

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But just a week before the gig, the event organisers suddenly withdrew Mali's tickets for unknown reasons, leaving Mali "very upset", said her dad, Andrew. In a now-viral social media post, he wrote: "There’s not much she can look forward to but this was huge and obviously it has had a huge negative impact on her.”

He told North Wales Live: “I deliberated whether to put something on Twitter (X). I wrote a short post, looked at it an hour later and it had gone mad." To date, his post has been viewed over 10 million times, liked 63,000 times and reposted 7,600 times - including by ex-Liverpool FC footballer Jamie Carragher.

Similar posts by family members, describing how Mali was left "absolutely devastated", garnered millions of views. In response, social media users offered to set up fundraisers or even buy tickets themselves.

Some tagged Taylor Swift herself, urging her to intervene. And it wasn't long before people came to the rescue, thanks to the power of social media. In an incredible sacrifice, a fellow Swiftie, Ella Hooton from Liverpool, offered her own tickets to Mali and her mum, Catrin.

Calling her gesture "amazing", Mr Edge said on X that Ella had made a "very poorly girl" who was "desperately sad and upset" into "the most excited I've seen her since she was diagnosed." But the generosity didn't stop there.

Ella's tickets were standing, so Andy Heaton, co-founder of the Anfield Wrap podcast series, made a post asking if anyone would be happy to swap their seated tickets for standing, so Mali would be able to sit down. Former Liverpool boxer Paul Smith duly obliged, upgrading the gifted tickets to VIP lounge status.

He wrote on X: "I'll get a pair sorted for her and swap with the standing tickets, she can have them so she sits down, they’re in a lounge on the Friday with food and drink included." Mr Edge described the trio as “diamonds”. “I don’t know them but they have made a young girl very happy,” he said.

"I’ve no idea why the tickets were cancelled and I’m not really interested. We were willing to pay. I went on resale sites but there was nothing available. He added: "The whole experience has been quite overwhelming. We’re just normal people who found themselves in an extraordinary situation.

"We never expected it to go as big as it has, with a global outpouring of support...I’d like to thank everyone for their kind messages and offers of help." Taylor Swift is bringing her Eras Tour to Liverpool’s Anfield stadium from June 13 to June 15. In preparation for her arrival, the city has been given a themed makeover with a series of art installations, each inspired by one of the singer’s albums.

Mali is now trying to build up her strength before attending Friday’s gig. “She was diagnosed seven months ago when she was 13,” said her dad. “It’s been very hard. She’s had an aggressive course of treatment which had taken quite a toll on her.

“It’s been very difficult for all of us. We’ve gone from a place of absolute horror to one where we’re now just hoping for the best – the prognosis is now more promising.” After the concert Mali will go straight to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, to start her third round of chemotherapy the following day. Mr Edge praised all the charity and medical staff involved in Mali’s treatment so far.

“The charities Young Lives vs Cancer, Teenage Cancer Trust, Joshua Tree have all supported us,” Mr Edge said. “I’d also like to thank Christie's and Alder Hey hospitals, as well as Glan Clwyd which helped Mali in the early stages.”