WHEN 12-year-old Mitchell Parsons underwent treatment for cancer earlier this year, he was given a wish.
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That wish was to play a game of tenpin bowling against Jason Belmonte.
Facilitated through the Starlight Children's Foundation, Mr Belmonte granted the wish on Wednesday, donating his time to host Mitchell and his family from Cairns at Orange Tenpin Bowl for a few games and lunch.
Mitchell said he had been bowling for almost two years and admired the world champion.
"He's really nice and he's great at bowling - I never thought I would meet him," he said.
He had been training hard under the guidance of his uncle, Jamie Miller, and competing in competitions.
Mr Belmonte noticed the dedication.
"Before he arrived, I didn't know what to expect, but I thought this kid can bowl - he got the curve on," he said.
The two played a match against each other by taking their averages and giving Mitchell a handicap.
"And if he beat me, he was to get a brand new bowling ball, which he did," Mr Belmonte said.
Mitchell said the first lesson he learned from his idol was the importance of wiping down the ball to remove the oil from the floor before bowling it.
"It's so it lasts longer," he said.
"You also want it to be less slippery so it hook more," Mr Belmonte said.
Mitchell was diagnosed with a form of lymphoma in February when his father, John, took him to hospital after a scooter park accident.
What doctors found was a mass the size of an apple in Mitchell's chest cavity.
"We went in for something and came out with something else," Mr Parsons said.
Six months of chemotherapy followed with Mitchell and mum Nicollette Lum living in Brisbane and Mr Parsons travelling every fortnight to see him.
"It was 100 per cent successful," Mr Parsons said.
"Hopefully it's onwards and upwards and he lives an illness-free life."
The Starlight Children's Foundation helps sick children fulfil their wishes to help ease the burden of their illnesses.
To sponsor a wish or ease the experience of hospital for a child, click here.
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