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Eun Kyung KimTODAY Feb. 12, 2014 at 11:48 AM ET

Sochi Olympics

Shaun White makes wish come truefor cancer survivor

Shaun White may have walked away from the 2014 Olympics without a gold

medal, but he won the hearts of a 10-year cancer survivor and his family.

Moments after qualifying for the halfpipe final on Tuesday, the American

snowboarder hopped the barrier separating him from spectators to greet Ben

Hughes of St. Louis.

“It was awesome. I couldn’t believe it,” Ben told TODAY Wednesday, of meeting

his hero.

Ben, who considers himself a mega White fan, was diagnosed with leukemia in

2010 but is now cancer free after undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. He

and another cancer survivor, 19-year-old Alabama undergrad Kaitlyn Lyle,

went to Sochi, Russia, with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

After the qualifying halfpipe event, White headed off the course to speak with

reporters. A Washington Post sports columnist who heard about Ben and

TODAY; EPA

Shaun White surprised one of his biggest fans, 10-year-old cancer survivor Ben.

TODAY

Ben and his family on TODAY.

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Kaitlyn's story reached out to the U.S. snowboarding press attaché and

suggested that White stop by to say hello. Moments later, White spotted Ben in

his USA beanie cap waving an American flag and “he leapt over the barrier,

catching some of the best air of his career,” according to columnist Mike Wise.

rickmaese

18 likes 2 comments

White surprised Ben and everyone around him as he greeted fans with

high-fives. Ben's mother, Liz Hughes, started crying.

“We got there very early, so we had a very good spot near the press,” she told

TODAY. “He just happened to be very close and someone mentioned that Ben

wanted to meet him and he hopped right over the fence.

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While White ultimately failed to medal in the halfpipe, the real disappointment

Video: Ben Hughes was diagnosed with leukemia four years ago. He’s now cancer free, and sayswatching snowboarder White helped him get through his illness. He was flown to the Olympics bythe Make-A-Wish Foundation and got to meet his hero, who leapt over the barrier to greet him.

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Shaun White sharesmoment with 10-year-oldfan

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Tuesday may have come from Ben's younger brother, Will, who missed his

chance to meet White with his brother.

"I was in the seats," he said.

1

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