Cancer sufferer tames 'wildest of wolves'

Taylor Harris (R) meets actor Bronson Pelletier in Auckland yesterday. Photo / Greg Bowker

A 13-year-old girl beat down for months by constant chemotherapy was beaming yesterday after meeting the "wildest of the wolves" from her favourite series.

Taylor Harris, who is suffering from leukaemia, met actor Bronson Pelletier from soon-to-be-released Twilight: New Moon at the Rendezvous Hotel in a meeting organised by charities and Hoyts Cinemas.

Taylor was in awe at meeting her favourite character in the vampire romance series, the wildest of a pack of wolves.

"I'm kind of, like, star-struck," she said.

She had been left speechless the previous day when she found out about the meeting, she said.

According to Taylor, her mother Jacqui had also perked up in preparation for the meeting with the wild wolf, finding shirtless photos of Pelletier on Google.

Mrs Harris said the meeting had been the highlight of an otherwise grim year for Taylor.

"It's the most animated I've seen her since her diagnosis. She didn't quite know what to say. She was beside herself."

Taylor had been diagnosed with leukaemia early this year and began bi-weekly chemotherapy treatments at the end of May.

The treatments had been taking a toll on Taylor, Mrs Harris said.

"She's had her moments. After chemo she feels sick and very tired. There's not a lot to look forward to. It's one week of chemo, one week off. Sometimes she doesn't ever feel well for a while."

A successful surgery in September meant Taylor could be done with her treatments next year.

She had five sessions of chemotherapy spread over three months left to go, "fingers crossed", Mrs Harris said.

The family were based in Shanghai and had to split up this year for Taylor's treatment.

The meeting was one of three with ill children scheduled for the Canadian actor, who is in Auckland for the Armageddon expo this weekend.

On Saturday night Pelletier will have dinner with a girl given only six months to live.

He had a reservoir of energy which he was happy to share, he said.

"I feel good if I can bring a smile to someone."

Hoyts Cinemas marketing executive Kate Stace said Child Cancer Foundation and Win a Wish Foundation had helped the company pick three fans to meet Pelletier, while a "Win a Date" draw for the general public had been inundated.

* Twilight: New Moon is set to open on November 19.