Ailing boy's wish to meet Malala comes true

Anwarullah suffers from a rare form of lung cancer, but he still has some unfinished business on this planet

Seventeen-year-old Anwarullah suffers from a rare form of lung cancer. And while doctors have given up hope on his treatment, Anwarullah hasn't given up on education.



And who better to reinforce his belief in education than 18-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai?

Anwarullah, who lives in Karachi, met Malala on November 22 when he was flown to Birmingham by the Make-A-Wish Foundation to meet his hero.

When asked about why he wished to meet Malala, he said Malala had managed to gain a great deal of recognition at such a young age, fighting for a cause close to his heart; the right to education.



Even though the initial moments between Anwarullah and Malala were a bit awkward with everyone taking pictures and exchanging flowers, the day quickly progressed into both of them playing Monopoly, sharing a cup of coffee and engaging in heartfelt conversations.

Malala disclosed that she was thrilled, but also surprised that Anwarullah’s picked her of all the people in the world. She said, “First of all, I just could not believe that it was his wish to meet me, but I am hopeful that he will continue his journey and will not lose hope.”



He also got some priceless advice from Malala, who herself has been through a lot. She told him “to believe in himself and move on.”

After thanking the Make-A-Wish team, Anwarullah expressed how this experience had motivated him to keep striving for academic success.

This article originally appeared on BBC News