Meet James

James was a typical teenager, who loved gaming and watching his favourite YouTubers.

But in August 2022, at just 16 years old, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Why James chose the wish

When he was told he could have a wish granted, James says it didn’t take long to figure out what it was he wanted to ask for. “I’ve spent a lot of time watching Daz throughout the years, and he’s always had the power to just really make me laugh,” says James. “When I started chemo, it was during a time when all my friends were moving on to college and getting jobs. So, especially while I was in hospital, Daz’s funny videos were so important to me.”  

When James’s Wish Granter announced that he would indeed be meeting Daz, and that that meeting would take place at the exclusive opening of Daz’s maze attraction at Alton Towers, he says he felt over the moon. “Excited doesn’t really capture it properly,” James says.

On the day

Daz met James at the entrance of Alton Towers, and the pair hit it off right away.  

“He was everything I had it in my head he would be – so genuinely nice and funny,” recalls James. “I remember asking him about his older videos from like 2018 and his Vine channel, and we had such a good time. I know they say you shouldn’t meet your heroes, but Daz was just so great, and he really put me at ease,” he adds.  

James and Daz were the first on the night to try out the maze. Throughout the rest of the evening, Daz kept coming back to make sure James and his family were having a good time. “Every moment we got to spend with him was amazing,” he says. James’s family spent the rest of the weekend at Alton Towers, and made some fabulous memories involving scare mazes, rollercoasters and fun.  

The impact of the wish

Now that he’s had his Rays of Sunshine wish, James is more determined than ever to continue raising awareness of brain tumours. 

“I just want to thank everyone involved at Rays of Sunshine, Alton Towers and Daz and his team. It really was a moment I’ll never forget,” James ends.