While most of us have role models and people we look up to, the connection shared between seven-year-old Lucy Poile and her hero, GIANTS star Sam Reid, is especially unique.

“He’s my favourite player because he’s type one diabetic, like me,” Lucy said.

The Cherrybrook local has been a GIANTS member for five years and last week got the opportunity to meet her idol face-to-face.

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She surprised the 28-yearold with his number 50 on the back of her jersey and was able to get an up-close look at Sam’s tattoos — one on his wrist that says “type one diabetic” and a dart board on his stomach where he has to administer his insulin.

Lucy herself wears an arm implant to monitor her insulin levels and has an insulin pump.

“It’s extremely important for Lucy to have a role model like Sam,” her father  said.

“We want to show Lucy that it’s a medical condition and nothing else, it doesn’t define who she is. Sam and people like them can do great things still.”

Reid played 13 games for the GIANTS last season and is regularly involved with Diabetes NSW & ACT, fronting their Move 4 Diabetes campaign in 2016.

“She’s a ripper,” Reid said of meeting Lucy.

“People like Lucy take a lot out of what I do and the experience of seeing me run around against some of the best athletes in the country.”

With Reid showing her daughter how to live her life to the fullest, Lucy’s mum Anne says she’s confident Lucy will have a bright, happy and healthy future ahead of her.

“Just because someone’s got diabetes, it doesn’t change their potential,” she said.

“Diabetes lives with Lucy. Lucy doesn’t live with diabetes as such and they’re capable of everything they put their minds to, it just means they have to think about it a bit harder.”

This article first appeared in The Hills Shire Times on Tuesday, January 16 titled 'Fandom of a special type'. CLICK HERE to view it online.