VENICE, Fla. -- There are the stories that make us cry and make us smile all at once. A Venice teenager who just battled cancer has something to celebrate thanks to the Make-A-Wish foundation.
Venice High School gave 18-year-old Sydney Hampton a star’s sendoff. She’s headed to the People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles.
As with any star, the paparazzi were there, too.
Why did she make this her wish?
“I didn’t want to waste the wish meeting one famous person," she said, "so I said, 'OK, what would be an event everybody is at?' … and it was coming up soon.”
Make-a-Wish Suncoast is making Sydney’s wish come true. They even took the teen shopping to pick out a gown for the red carpet.
“Sydney’s been through a lot," says Rebecca Blitz, director of the Make-A-Wish Suncoast. "She lost her father to cancer, then she received the diagnoses she has cancer. ... She’s a had a hard time and been super brave through it all.”
“Ever since I got cancer, everyone’s been doing everything for me so this is the last thing,” says Sydney as she breaks down crying.
Blitz adds, “Our goal at Make-A-Wish is to inspire hope, strength and joy.”
Sydney has this advice to others going through an illness: “Keep looking forward, talk to your friends. I didn’t think I had any before. To think that many people actually cared meant a lot.”
As Sydney’s brother comforts her, she says she didn’t expect all this attention.
The limo door closes and she and her family head to the airport. Sydney leaves this message
Sydney will be on the red-carpet Sunday evening. She’ll have a chance to meet, talk and take photos with the stars.
The best news is Sydney’s cancer is in remission.
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