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Social Media Helps A Star Wars Fan With Terminal Cancer See 'The Force Awakens' Before It Hits Theaters

November 6, 2015

A Star Wars fan with terminal cancer hoped to see "The Force Awakens" before he passed. After learning he might not make it to the official release date, his wife and friends turned to the internet for help.

Daniel Fleetwood via GoFundMe

32 year-old Daniel Fleetwood of Spring, Texas, was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma, a rare connective tissue cancer, two years ago, and on Sept. 2 his oncologist said he has two months to live.

Lindsay James wrote on Facebook:

Director/Producer J.J. Abrams recently granted this wish for a Star Trek fan who was dying and wanted to see Star Trek: Into Darkness before he passed away. Maybe he would do the same for a Star Wars fan?

Daniel's wish became a social media campaign which quickly picked up steam online.

On November 5, his dream came true. Lucasfilm allowed Daniel to watch an unedited version of the film, which won't hit theaters nationwide until Dec. 18.

Daniel's wife, Ashley wrote on Facebook:

When social media is used for good, amazing things can happen.