Teen Cancer Survivor Scores Super Bowl Trip Through Make-A-Wish

James Walter rang the bell marking the end of his cancer treatment last year, and now he's celebrating with the trip of a lifetime.

The 16-year-old from Apex, North Carolina, was diagnosed with leukemia at just 12 years old, shortly after recovering from COVID-19. For three years, James endured chemotherapy treatments before finally hearing those two precious words: cancer free.

Now Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina has partnered with Fanatics to send James to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. He's one of just 23 kids from across the country chosen for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The surprise came in a special invitation box with a custom Super Bowl ring inside. James will travel with his family to watch the game this Sunday, February 8th.

While James is a devoted Duke fan at home, he'll be cheering for the New England Patriots at the big game. His favorite player is former UNC star Drake Maye, proving that sports rivalries take a back seat when dreams come true.

Sunny's Take

This is what hope looks like in action. James spent a quarter of his young life fighting an illness no child should face, missing out on normal teenage experiences while sitting in treatment rooms. Now he gets to sit in a Super Bowl stadium instead.

Make-A-Wish exists to create exactly these moments for children battling critical illnesses. They understand that joy isn't just nice to have during difficult times. It's medicine in its own right.

For James and the 22 other wish kids making this trip, Super Bowl Sunday becomes more than a game. It's a celebration of survival, resilience, and the power of communities coming together to lift up their youngest fighters.

James rang that bell to mark the end of his treatment, and now he gets to hear 70,000 fans ring in a new chapter of his life.