A terminally ill Marvel fan will get to watch an early screening of the new Avengers: Endgame film after getting Chris Hemsworth’s attention with his emotional appeal.
The 33-year-old Australian fan, known only as Alexander, revealed his dying wish was to get a sneak peek at the final movie as he is battling liver cancer, mouth cancer and bone marrow failure and has just months left to live.
His impassioned campaign soon went viral and reportedly led to Chris being contacted – prompting Disney to get in touch with Alexander to discuss when he can see the film.
Good news! A terminally ill Marvel fan, known only as Alexander (L), will get to watch an early screening of the new Avengers: Endgame film after getting Chris Hemsworth’s (R) attention with his emotional appeal
Alexander suffers from the rare genetic condition, Fanconi Anemia, which is likely to prove fatal before the Avengers: Infinity War sequel premieres on April 24.
He took to the Marvel studios subreddit on January 5 with a post entitled ‘Dying Before April: My Endgame’.
He wrote: ‘Liver cancer, mouth cancer, bone marrow failure. Will probably be dead before April. I’ve heard of people getting early screenings before.
‘I’m not a child or anyone with a particularly tragic story. Just a normal guy. I’m 33, lost my sister three years ago to the same rare genetic disease it turns out I have too.
Appeal: The 33-year-old Australian revealed his dying wish was to get a sneak peek at the final movie as he is battling liver cancer, mouth cancer and bone marrow failure and has just months left to live
Devastating: Alexander suffers from the rare genetic condition, Fanconi Anemia, which is likely to prove fatal before the Avengers: Infinity War sequel premieres on April 24
‘I’ll leave behind a devoted girlfriend and an adopted greyhound. I thought I’d make it to April at least but my bone marrow is toast. Any suggestions?’
Thousands rallied behind the Avengers fan, with many contacting the Reddit accounts of directors Anthony and Joe Russo and spreading the hashtag ‘#Avengers4Alexander.’
As support grew for Alexander’s case, he explained that a friend of friend called Chris Hemsworth on his behalf.
‘I’ve had messages from people hinting that Marvel higher ups are aware of me and are preparing something,’ he wrote.
Tragic: He took to the Marvel studios subreddit on January 5 with a post entitled ‘Dying Before April: My Endgame’
Exciting: Thousands rallied behind the Avengers fan, with many contacting the Reddit accounts of directors Anthony and Joe Russo and spreading the hashtag ‘#Avengers4Alexander’
‘Also, because Australia is a small place, turns out I know a guy who knows a guy who is chums with Chris Hemsworth. I think they called him tonight on my behalf.’
And soon it was good news for the movie buff, as he revealed that Disney, the company that owns Marvel has reached out to him to ‘discuss options’.
‘Disney have reached out and we are discussing options. I cried when I read their email. It’s everything I hoped for and I owe it to all of you,’ Alexander penned.
He added: ‘A few commenters have offered financial support. I’ve told them that money isn’t my problem, just time. Instead I’d like to direct you to donate money for research into my genetic disease, Fanconi Anemia.’
Alexander lived a disease-free life until 2017, when he developed mouth cancer which led to much of his jaw being amputated.
Friends in high places: As support grew for Alexander’s case, he explained that a friend of friend called Chris Hemsworth on his behalf and soon Disney bosses got in touch with him to ‘discuss options’ for an early screening
He then got bone marrow cancer and liver cancer in 2018, when he was told he only had a year at most to live.
Discussing the devastating news, he told the Sunday Telegraph: ‘I often wonder what my life would have been like had I known from the age of 13 that my expected lifespan was only 30 to 35.
‘I think that would have been a huge psychological burden to bear, and the pressure to make every day count hard to ignore.’
He added that he was overwhelmed with the support from strangers, saying: ‘The messages of support have propped me up. I’m so used to trolls on the internet that I’d forgotten how much kindness there is in the world.’
You can donate money for research into Fanconi Anemia here.
Battle: Alexander lived a disease-free life until 2017, when he developed mouth cancer which led to much of his jaw being amputated. He then got bone marrow cancer and liver cancer in 2018, when he was told he only had a year at most to live