U.S. Olympic Men’s Team Hosts Make-A-Wish Athlete at Training Session

Bill Kauffman August 20, 2008

Photo: USA Volleyball

Make-A-Wish participant Miles Britton, center with ball, poses with the U.S. Olympic Men's Indoor Volleyball Team

Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

BEIJING (Aug. 20, 2008) - The U.S. Olympic Men's Indoor Volleyball Team hosted Make-A-Wish participant Miles Britton at its Wednesday morning training session as it prepared for an Olympic Games quarterfinal match later in the day versus Serbia.

At age 15, Britton is in remission from a fast-paced form of lymphoma similar to the cancer Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester was diagnosed with in 2006 and later came back to pitch in the final World Series Game in 2007. According to Britton's father Steve, there is a "one-in-a-million" chance of obtaining this form of cancer.

The teenage Britton was one of two young men with life-threatening illnesses selected by the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation® to attend the 2008 Olympic Games fulfilling wishes. He submitted a wish to watch the U.S. Men's Volleyball Team compete in the Olympic Games in Beijing.

All that needed to happen to make the wish reality was the U.S. team qualifying for the Olympics. Britton also had to successfully completing a series of radiation treatments and be given doctor approval. The team did its part by qualifying for the Olympics in January 2008 by winning the NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament. Britton did his part and was given doctor's approval in May around the time when the 12-team Olympic field was being submitted.

Britton was accompanied to the U.S. training session at Beijing Normal University by his father, mother and sister. He had the opportunity to meet with each of the players, along with U.S. Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon. While chatting with Britton, the team signed an Olympic Games volleyball produced by Mikasa, which was donated by the FIVB.

The Britton family was in attendance Wednesday evening to watch the U.S. play Serbia in its Olympic Games quarterfinal match to fulfill his Make-A-Wish.

Prior to his illness, Britton played middle blocker for Los Gatos Apex Boys' Volleyball Club in the Bay Area of California. He volunteers at his local skate park and is a Boy Scout/Life Scout.