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DStrong hashtag goes global for 8-year-old battling cancer

Posted at 9:50 PM, Jan 13, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-13 21:50:25-05

WESTERLY, R.I. — An 8-year-old boy from Rhode Island is receiving support from around the globe thanks to a Facebook campaign with the hashtag DStrong. Dorian Murray has rhabdomyosarcoma, a pediatric cancer that was diagnosed when he was four. The cancer is no longer treatable.

In December, doctors discovered cancer cells were now in Dorian’s spinal fluid. His parents made the decision to stop treatment at the start of the new year.

Then, Dorian told his parents he had a goal.

“I’m just thinking before I go to heaven to try to be famous as much as I can,” he said.

Dorian with NFL superstar Rob Gronkowski.

Dorian with NFL superstar Rob Gronkowski.

In less than a week, the power of social media did just that, Dorian Murray is now famous.

What started as a few Facebook and Twitter posts with the hashtag #DStrong has now spread across the world.

“I’ve gotten Paris, Japan,” Dorian told WPRI. “Switzerland, Italy.”

“They’re just saying to keep fighting,” said Dorian. “They believe in me. And it’s just really nice to know that so many people have my back for me.”

Hashtag #DStrong even caught the attention of New England Patriot’s superstar Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski gave Dorian a surprise visit Monday night, spending time with him and his family and urging him to keep fighting.

Now Dorian’s parents are keeping the fight and trying to raise awareness of pediatric cancer which only has about a 20% survival rate.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with Dorian’s medical expenses.