Teen with brain cancer talks to Tebow, attending Duke basketball banquet


An Iredell County boy who is battling brain cancer continues to mark items off his wish list.

A couple weeks ago Channel 9 reported on Matthew Bailey's top 10 list of big wishes.

Matthew's top 10 list consists of going to the Final Four, throwing a football with Cam Newton, visiting Cameron Indoor Arena and meeting  Coach K.


On Wednesday night, another of Matthew's wishes will come true. According to family pastor Joel Settle, Make-A-Wish coordinated the teen's visit to Durham Wednesday evening. He will attend the Duke men's basketball banquet, where he will meet Coack K and players.

The Bailey family will stay at a hotel in Durham Wednesday night and take a limo ride to the banquet at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

On Tuesday, Matthew received a phone call from Tim Tebow. He actually missed Tebow's first call because he wasn't feeling well, but Tebow left a voicemail saying he would call back in 10 minutes.

Other items on Matthew's list have been completed. Lowe's Home Improvement sent Matthew to the Final Four a couple of weekends ago, and also got him an autographed Cam Newton jersey.

The teen has also received various autographed memorabilia from Duke University, including an autographed Duke basketball team poster, Duke football helmet from Coach David Cutliffe, autographed basketball from Coach K and a signed hat from Jabari Parker.

Matthew's list has spurred a social media movement. Hundreds on Twitter and Facebook have sent messages of support to Matthew and recently a family friend stepped forward offering free tickets to the Final Four.

WSOCTV.com revealed Matthew's top 10 list on Twitter and the hashtag #Top10ForMatt caught on quickly.

"It's just amazing how people have rallied around and really helped to keep his spirits up," Matthew's father, Don Bailey, told Channel 9 in an interview after the Final Four.

"Pray for other people doing the same stuff as I do. We go down there to where I have to do my treatment and there's people who need help, need the prayers more than I do, so just help them, pray for them," Matthew said.

Matthew Bailey's Top 10 list:

No. 1: Throw a football with Cam Newton

No. 2: Play H-O-R-S-E with Bobcats owner Michael Jordan

No. 3: Tebow with Tim Tebow

No. 4: Play a pick up game with Kevin Durant

No. 5: Meet Johnny Manziel

? No. 6: Go to the NCAA Final Four

?No. 7: Visit Cameron Indoor Arena, meet Coach K

No. 8: Sit courtside for a Miami Heat game

No. 9: Go to the Super Bowl

No. 10: Go to an NBA Finals game