London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Aug 02, 2026

Ghostbusters fan wish comes true on Leeds library ghoul hunt

Ghostbusters fan wish comes true on Leeds library ghoul hunt

An eight-year-old Ghostbusters super fan has enjoyed an action-packed day hunting ghouls in a library in Leeds.

George, from Harrogate, has a rare form of congenital heart disease which means he was born with half a working heart.

The condition means he is unable to join in with some activities but said he had found a way to "face my fears and be brave" through the films.

His dream day involved a ride in the famous Ecto-1 vehicle before capturing a ghost at Leeds Central Library.

George, from Harrogate, has a rare form of congenital heart disease

George was joined by a team of Ghostbusters at Leeds Library


Organised by the charity Make-A-Wish, George's mum, Jane, said: "Any parents who have a child with an illness or a disability, especially a disability like George's heart condition, life can be difficult for them.

"[Today has] really made us grateful and it makes you feel that you're not alone. So many people have come together to recognise what he's been through but also what families like us go through.

"It's given us something that George will take with him for the rest of his life."

The youngster's day started with a ride in the film's famous Ecto-1 vehicle

The day was organised by charity Make-A-Wish


George's day started when he and his family were given a police escort into Leeds, where George was met with a guard of honour from local police, before enacting a scene in the library, which had been decked out in a spooky fashion.

The young ghoul hunter led four other Ghostbusters through the library in search of paranormal activity, before capturing a ghost, taking it to West Yorkshire Police and receiving a certificate of thanks from the mayor.

He said the day had "amazing written all over it".

"We managed to find [the ghost] and then zapped all of it," he added

"It just means I can do anything and nothing is out of my reach, it really made me confident and I tried to not get scared."

Leeds Central Library was given a spooky makeover for the event

I ain't afraid of no ghost: George was challenged to capture a ghoul at the library

George said the day had "amazing written all over it"

George fell in love with the film franchise, which started in 1984, after watching the movies two years ago.

Speaking last week he said: "When I'm in hospital, it's a bit scary. But just like the Ghostbusters, I try to face my fears. I try to be brave."

Ahead of Sunday, George also received messages from members of the original Ghostbusters cast Dan Ackroyd and Ernie Hudson.

Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Bill Murray in a scene from Ghostbusters


Joanne Porter, content manager at Make-A-Wish UK, said it had been a "phenomenal" day.

"We're just blown away by the number of people who gave their time and their venue and gifts to make George and his family extremely happy.

"Memories that will stay with all of us, I think, for a very long time."


George's dream day involved capturing a ghost at Leeds Central Library.


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Finland Deploys Commercial-Scale Thermal Batteries Using Crushed Rock to Store Renewable Grid Energy
Valued at $109 Million: F-35B Fighter Jet Crashes in Southern California
Sainsbury Agrees to Sell Argos in £120 Million Deal to Private Consortium
High Court Clears Way for Construction of Chinese Embassy at Royal Mint Court
UK Fuel Prices Climb to Multi-Month Highs as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Disrupt Oil Supplies
Severe Summer Drought and Record Heat Put UK Harvests at Risk
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Faces Labour Backbench Opposition Over Potential Support for New North Sea Oil and Gas Drilling
Bank of England Warns Inflation Will Stay Above 3% as Middle East Energy Shock Prolongs Cost-of-Living Pressures
Andy Burnham has Announces Plans to Redistribute Income Tax Revenue to English Mayors
Early-Release Scheme Faces Fresh Scrutiny as Reoffending and Prison Recalls Rise
Police Phone Checks Followed Report on Murder of MI5 Agent Inside Sinn Féin
Archbishop of Canterbury Reaffirms £100 Million Reparative Justice Fund During Ghana Visit
Charities Allege French Police Used Tear Gas Against Channel Migrants
Norwegian Teenager Convicted Over Iran-Linked Murder Plot in Britain
Christian Organisations File Charity Complaints Against Amnesty International UK
Ofgem Tightens Grid Connection Rules for New Data Centres
FTSE 100 Reaches Record High Despite Global Technology Sell-Off
Millions of UK Households Urged to Check Eligibility for Winter Energy Discount
Labour Restores Parliamentary Whips to Diane Abbott and Joani Reid
UK Supreme Court to Hear Challenge Over Palestine Action Ban
UK Commits More Than £8.4 Billion to Dreadnought Nuclear Submarine Programme
England Declares Severe Drought as Wildfire Burns Near Sizewell Nuclear Site
Bank of England Holds Interest Rates at 3.75% as Middle East Tensions Fuel Inflation Risks
Drought Status Extended Across All of Wales as Heat and Dry Weather Deepen Environmental Strain
Record-Low Danube Exposes Probable Mammoth Remains in Bulgaria
UK Business Confidence Climbs to Four-Month High
Greater Manchester Gains Expanded Powers Under Regional Funding Reforms
UK Supreme Court to Hear Appeal Over Palestine Action Terror Ban
Shell's Quarterly Profit Doubles to Nearly $10 Billion on Higher Energy Prices
UK Government Removes VAT From Household Electricity Bills
Exceptional Drought Grips Half of England as Wildfire Threatens Sizewell
Bank of England Holds Interest Rates at 3.75% as Inflation Risks Persist
US Says It Has Carried Out Heavy Strikes on Iran After Attempted Attacks on Its Forces
The chief executive of the popular gaming company laid off many employees and his pay rose to 38 million dollars
UK Employment Holds Steady as Wage Growth Remains Moderate
England to Introduce Artificial Intelligence into Secondary School Curriculum
Wales Launches £1.2 Billion Industrial Regeneration Programme
High Court Upholds UK Digital Surveillance Framework
Northern Ireland Reaches Budget Agreement on Infrastructure and Public Sector Pay
Home Office Expands Digital Border Checks Nationwide
UK Approves Major North Sea Wind and Carbon Capture Project
The World's Most Terrifying Smartphone: Recording, Documenting, and Reporting to the Regime
Scotland Approves Major Renewable Energy Expansion
UK and United States Sign AI and Semiconductor Cooperation Pact
UK Treasury Tightens Fiscal Controls After Gilt Market Volatility
Bank of England Holds Interest Rates at 4.5%
UK Unveils £10 Billion NHS Funding Overhaul and Workforce Reform
The AI User Nightmare: Private Claude Conversations Leaked to the Internet
UK: Former Football Association Leaders Call for World Cup Boycott Over FIFA Privatization Plan
Forbidden Love: China severs millions from their virtual partners
×