At just 12 years old, Marcus Thompson faced a battle no child should endure—his leukemia had returned, and doctors said there was no cure. With only a few months to live, Marcus had one wish: to meet his hero, LeBron James.
Marcus had been a basketball fan since childhood, and during his first fight with cancer, LeBron’s resilience inspired him. Every time chemotherapy drained his strength, watching LeBron play gave him hope. Now, facing the hardest challenge of his life, Marcus held onto that same hope.
When the Make-A-Wish Foundation heard about Marcus, they stepped in to help. They asked what his greatest wish was, and Marcus immediately responded: meeting LeBron. The foundation helped him make a video message, sharing his story and how LeBron had inspired him to fight. The video went viral in no time, and the hashtag #LetMarcusMeetLeBron trended worldwide.
While Marcus was asleep, LeBron saw the video. The next morning, Marcus woke to find his phone flooded with notifications. His story had captivated the sports world, even drawing coverage from ESPN. The biggest surprise came when Marcus checked Twitter: LeBron had responded.
— Marcus, keep fighting, young king. Your strength inspires me. See you soon.
Marcus was overwhelmed with emotion. LeBron had seen his message, and now his wish was about to come true.
LeBron’s visit was carefully coordinated with the medical team. Though Marcus was weak, he promised to fight hard to be strong enough for the meeting. Just hours before LeBron’s scheduled arrival, Marcus’s condition worsened, but his mother begged the doctors not to cancel. This could be his last chance for joy.
By morning, Marcus stabilized. At 10 a.m., LeBron entered the hospital room. The meeting was everything Marcus had imagined and more. LeBron not only gave Marcus a Lakers jersey and shoes signed by the team, but also presented him with an official one-day contract with the Lakers.
LeBron pulled out his phone and held a video call with the Lakers team. Every player welcomed Marcus, shouting, “Welcome to the team!” That night, during the Lakers’ playoff game, LeBron dedicated every basket to Marcus, even wearing a purple ribbon with “Thompson” on it.
Later, LeBron announced the creation of the Marcus Thompson Foundation to support families fighting childhood cancer, donating $10 million and securing commitments from NBA players and sponsors for another $40 million. Marcus’s legacy had begun.
Although Marcus’s health remained fragile, his involvement in the foundation inspired thousands of families. As months passed, his health improved inexplicably, slowing the cancer’s progression. The foundation helped over a thousand families, with LeBron calling Marcus regularly.
A year later, when LeBron visited again, Marcus, now stronger and filled with life, looked through letters from families helped by the foundation. LeBron showed him a video of children across the country wearing Thompson ribbons, and Marcus smiled.
LeBron then told him, “This is your true legacy, Marcus. Not just fighting your own battle, but helping others fight theirs.”
As Marcus drifted off to sleep, he thought about how his story had become a new beginning—not an end—and how he would continue changing lives, one day at a time.
