Movies November 10, 2015
Terminally Ill 'Star Wars' Superfan Dies After Getting Last Wish to See 'Force Awakens'
Cancer patient Daniel Fleetwood, whose family and friends started the #forcefordaniel social media campaign to help him get to see “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” early, has died.
Disney and director J.J. Abrams helped him fulfill his dying wish last Thursday, because loved ones feared he wouldn't make it to the film's opening day on Dec. 18.
His wife Ashley announced the news of his passing on Facebook. "Daniel put up an amazing fight to the very end. He is now one with God and with the force. He passed in his sleep and in peace. He will always be my idol and my hero. Please hug uncle Marc for me and give Lucy lots of kisses. Rest in peace my love."
She also included a picture with the caption, "This was the last selfie we ever took together," and added the hashtag used for the social media campaign, “#forcefordaniel.”
After Daniel watched the film last week, Ashley wrote on Facebook, "Daniel just finished watching an unedited version of 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'!!! We would like to thank the awesomely talented JJ Abrams for calling us yesterday to tell us Daniel was getting his wish granted!"
According to his GoFundMe page, Fleetwood had been battling spindle cell sarcoma for two years. On Sept. 1, his doctor gave him one to two months to live, and he began hospice care.
