South Bay community helps teenage cancer patient complete bucket list

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Ask any 17-year-old to write a bucket list and you might get back a list of nearly unattainable requests. But when a South Bay community heard about a young man's list and the time he had left to accomplish it, they wasted no time jumping into action.

Cancer patient 17-year-old Alex Matlosz-Cox told a crowd, "I realize how lucky I am to have the love and support of all of you and countless others."

It was the speech that had the whole group in tears. Alex, who has been given two weeks to live, thanked everyone for making his bucket list come true.

"It just amazes me what people have done for him," family friend Ben Cho said.

Cho, who is like an uncle to Alex, helped put him in the seat of a Ferrari. And when others heard of Alex's terminal bone cancer, they offered up their exotic cars including a Lamborghini.

"There was an Audi R8, Maserati, Aston Martin," Cho said.

The bucket list effort multiplied, and pretty soon Alex was the skipper on a private sailboat. He also met his favorite rock group called A Day To Remember, set up by Kathy Smith whom he never knew before his diagnosis.

"You know, that's what you do, right? Life is too short not to be happy. So," Smith said.

Others arranged a ride in a San Jose police helicopter and a chance to soar the skies while piloting an airplane.

"I just look at life differently now. You know? I just do," Smith said.

Family members say Alex has forged a community bond that will live on.