Cahill presented Steven with a football signed with the words, "Follow Your Dream". The pair met during Cahill's visit to Lane Cove West Primary School in Sydney.

 "It was great... I've watched him on TV and seen him on the news and score goals. It was great to have a kick with him," Steven told au.fourfourtwo.com . "He's really nice."

Steven was two years old when diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphona. He remembers vaguely those dark days of being in hospital with "my Mum sitting by my side."

His mother said that the support the family got from the children's hospital was very important.

She added: "It's very important that the cancer council gets the funding it needs to do the research so the kids can have a smoother run through their chemo [therapy] and to get through it quicker."

Cahill's school visit was to raise awareness of the work the Cancer Council does and the Socceroo star's own Cancer Fund for Children. 

The Socceroo played a game of football with some of the schoolkids and took part in a question and answer session at a school that's helping promote the Cancer Council's sunsmart program.

It was part of a packed promotional schedule for Cahill. He was special guest at the Johnny Warren Football Foundation Gala Dinner on Tuesday night and appearances on Channel 9 and at the SFS for Optus were scheduled either side of his school visit.

"A day like today brings me back down to earth," Cahill told au.fourfourtwo.com. "It makes everything worthwhile. They [the kids] listen to me, they're inspired by me. If I change just one kid's mind process after today then I've done my job.

"We've been working with the Cancer Council for a year and done some great campaigns but now we've emphasised children's cancer and making people aware and how it affects families.

"We've set the website up and we've got a fund underway and I'm very proud to see that."

Despite developments in treatment, one in every five children diagnosed with cancer still loses their life. 

The most common cancers in children include leukaemia, cancers of the central nervous system and lymphoma.

"It was only 50 years ago that a diagnosis of cancer as a child was a virtual death sentence, with only 5 per cent of children surviving," said Dr Andrew Penman, CEO at Cancer Council NSW.

"Today, nearly 80 per cent of children survive, thanks to breakthroughs in research.  But even those who survive often face an uncertain future, knowing their cancer could return at any time."  

Dr Penman said the money raised by the Tim Cahill Cancer Fund for Children will be devoted to defeating children's cancer, through prevention, education and support, as well as through vital research projects.  

All at FourFourTwo would encourage our loyal readers both of the magazine and online to donate to the Tim Cahill Cancer Fund for Children. You can log on to www.cancercouncil.com.au/timcahillfund or call the donor hotline on 1300 780 113.  Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.