While many celebrities typically enjoy a sort of god-like existence,
some of those shining stars find it in their hearts to come back down to
earth and do something selfless for a good cause. From Beyoncé to Lady Gaga,
these A-listers pulled out all the stops, helping celebrate the lives of their biggest fans.
According to The Sun, Oliver Burton was diagnosed with leukemia for the third time in late 2012. The
ten-year-old, who was also living with Down's syndrome, spent his final weeks with his family
at home, except for the occasional wish-granting jaunt provided by the National Children's Tumor
Leukemia Cancer Trust of the U.K., which, try as it did, was unable to arrange a one-on-one
with Queen Elizabeth. But the organization was able to connect Burton with the next best thing:
Helen Mirren, who won an Academy Award for playing Elizabeth in The Queen.
In 2013, Mirren sent a limousine to pick up Burton and his family,
and she met them backstage at a theater in London's West End, where she was once
again portraying the Queen in the play The Audience. Mirren then hung out with Burton,
who was convinced Mirren was the actual monarch, a ruse made all the more realistic because she
stayed in character and employed a butler and some of the queen's signature Corgi dogs, too.
Mirren also used her temporary royal powers to grant a knighthood to "Sir Oliver."
"Thank God for someone who made many many people happy."
No matter what he does throughout his career, Mark Hamill will forever be known — and beloved — for
his iconic role as Luke Skywalker. Hamill takes his fans' appreciation for him and his work very
seriously, and once provided both thrills and comfort to a dying fan. Blockbuster screenwriter
Ed Solomon revealed this little-known story about Hamill on Twitter in 2017. The son of
a friend of Solomon's had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and his one wish was, quote,
"to meet Luke Skywalker." Not Mark Hamill, but rather the character, Luke Skywalker.
"I thought, welp, I just got drafted."
Solomon didn't know Hamill personally, but he called the actor's agent. About a minute later,
Hamill called Solomon and said he'd meet the fan. Solomon wrote,
"He not only met with the boy, but spent hours answering question after question AS 'Luke.'"
"You ok, R2?"
[R2 beeping]
"Good."
Lady Gaga is one of the biggest music stars in the world, thanks to her talent and penchant for
putting on a good show. But her fan engagement is earnest, authentic, and generous as well.
"I think that being brave is hard, but it's synonymous in many ways with trying."
According to CNN, in 2013 the "Shallow" singer postponed a slew of dates on her "Born This
Way" tour because she was in terrible pain. Tour operators said that she'd suffered a tear in her
right hip. She required surgery and recovery time, leading to the rescheduling of many concerts,
including a date in Chicago. The move threatened a planned meeting with five-year-old Kayleigh
Gurzynski, who, according to the Pierce County Herald, was supposed to meet Gaga.
The pop singer reportedly could barely walk, but despite cancelling the concert,
she made a special trip to Chicago anyway, specifically to hang out with Kayleigh,
who had a rare and terminal heart defect. Kayleigh died just three months later.
By the early '90s, Gilligan's Island was still a big deal on TV. Reruns
of the 1960s sitcom had aired endlessly, proving to be a hit with kids. The goofy,
family-friendly sitcom was set on a remote, uncharted island where seven castaways had
been stuck after a "three-hour tour" on a boat went horribly off-course. The late
Bob Denver starred as the innocent, immature, and bumbling Gilligan, First Mate of the S.S. Minnow,
who got up to mischief while the others tried to find ways to escape the island.
"That's the most noble sacrifice anyone has ever made."
"Well, I haven't made it yet. In fact, I think the chicken in me is coming out…"
In 1992, according to the Point Pleasant Register, several kids working with the
Make-a-Wish Foundation pooled their requests to make one giant request: to rescue Gilligan
from his island. And the organization gladly made it happen. They chartered a boat called
the West Virginia Belle and rechristened it the S.S. Minnow. With all of the wish-making kids
aboard — as honorary commanders of the vessel, of course — the ship set sail for a small island,
where Bob Denver, in character as Gilligan, awaited his rescue. After the mission,
Denver signed autographs, talked with the kids, and embarked on a real "three-hour tour."
"I am having so much fun. I can't wait to see Beyoncé."
In late 2013, Beyoncé shared a video about a 12-year-old girl named Tay Davis who had
an inoperable brain tumor, whose final wish was to get to dance with Beyoncé.
Make-a-Wish and Beyoncé made what might seem like an impossible dream come true
at a Las Vegas concert. At one point during the show, the Grammy winner joined Tay in the crowd.
The two hugged, duetted on "Love On Top," and danced to "Survivor."
But this wasn't the first time Beyoncé had gone above and beyond for an important fan.
In March 2021, according to HuffPost, the singer got word that Lyric Chanel had passed away
at age 13, after battling brain cancer for two years. But before she died,
Chanel shared a sweet correspondence with Beyoncé: In September 2020,
Chanel posted a video where she sang along to "Love On Top," and that video made its way to
the pop star. B sent over flowers and a note to let Chanel know how much she meant to her.
To pay tribute, Beyoncé then made a YouTube memorial video — with an a cappella medley of
"Brown Skin Girl," "Halo," and "Love on Top" — all dedicated to Chanel.
"I love you with all of my heart."
Of course the Muppets are fictional characters, but "The Muppets" is also an umbrella term for
The Jim Henson Company, the studio that makes Muppet content like Sesame Street, Muppets Now,
and a slew of Muppet movies, including the 1999 epic Muppets From Space.
"People of Earth, do not be alarmed."
"Oh, brother."
An 11-year-old named Kristina Donnelly worked as a puppeteer on the film, making her one of the
youngest Muppet staff members ever. But, according to Muppet Central, that wasn't just some lucky
casting. Donnelly had been diagnosed with terminal bone cancer, and she wanted to visit the set of
Muppets From Space and be in the movie in some way. Donnelly accepted the unbelievable offer
to operate an actual Muppet, essentially becoming Baab the Sheep — a puppet made just for the movie
and just for her. Donnelly died in November 1999, shortly after the release of the movie.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, around 2007, ten-year-old Kevin Cordasco was diagnosed with
a form of neural cancer. During his prolonged illness, Kevin enjoyed watching Breaking Bad,
which starred Bryan Cranston as Walter White. Kevin's dad explained to the outlet,
"There was something about the Walter White character,
the way he took control of his illness, and his life, that really resonated with Kevin."
"What I need is a choice."
"Wanna cook?"
It turned out Kevin's godmother happened to have a Breaking Bad connection,
agent Kim Byrd, who arranged a meeting between
Kevin and Cranston — and several others stepped up, too. Kevin's dad recalled,
"Bryan and his wife sat with Kevin for hours at the hospital. And then [Vince
Gilligan] came to our house, along with some of the cast."
But it appeared Kevin even changed the trajectory of the series. Creator Vince Gilligan mentioned
on the Breaking Bad Insider podcast that when he asked Kevin if there was anything he'd like
the show to cover, the teen said he hoped for a deeper dive on Gretchen and Elliott, the couple
who formed the company Gray Matter with Walter — although they got rich and Walter didn't. Because
of Kevin's suggestion, Gretchen and Elliot appear in Season five and finally make peace with Walter.
According to Forbes, Tyler Perry is a stone cold billionaire. But while he could luxuriate in his
own riches, Perry frequently gives back to the people and city who made him who he is. In 2018,
according to CNN, he paid off more than $400,000 in layaway bills at two Atlanta Walmart stores.
"Tyler Perry you blessed our family. I thank you and I thank God for you."
And, just a few months later, he made a last, lifelong wish come true. According
to a local Tennessee radio station, Perry met gospel singer LaShun Pace in the late '90s,
when she worked on one of the future mogul's plays. They stayed close over the years,
and in 2018, Perry met Pace’s mother, 80-year-old Betty Ann Pace, when she was diagnosed with stage
5 kidney failure and given just days to live. Pace shared her one last wish with Perry: She wanted
to own her very own home, one where she could live with her daughters. Perry made it happen,
purchasing a well-appointed Atlanta-area home for the Pace family. LaShun said,
"To me, it's like a mansion in the sky.
We grew up in a three bedroom, one bathroom with 12 people. We've struggled all our life."
"I know it's hard times. A lot of people are struggling. I'm just
really really grateful to be able to be in a position to do this."
According to KLKN-TV, when Cayden Hubbard was in kindergarten, he was diagnosed with
a brain tumor. Hubbard spent a lot of time in and out of hospitals enduring
six surgeries to remove the tumor and treat the cancer, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.
"There was no thought of his illness. He was completely immersed in the moment."
In 2012, when he was in the fifth grade, Make-a-Wish helped him live out his one
true fantasy of becoming a pop sensation. Students and staff at his elementary school,
along with members of the community, helped pull off an elaborate, day-long dream come true.
Members of the football team played bodyguards who escorted Hubbard from his classroom to a limo,
which took him to a local radio station to record an on-air promo. According to KLKN-TV:
"That was followed by a flight to Los Angeles to record a song at a studio, a makeover,
and a meeting with “Extra” star Mario Lopez."
But one more surprise was in store: Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine happens to be from
Hubbard's hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska, and he and bandmate Adam Levine performed a song with
Hubbard and then gave him an autographed guitar. But this story has a happy twist:
After several surgeries, Hubbard graduated high school in 2018.
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