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SMITHVILLE, Texas — A Texas boy mourning the loss of his friend received a letter of comfort penned by an unlikely hero from a galaxy far, far away.
A huge Star Wars fan, the boy, Liam, was looking forward to seeing the newest installment of the iconic franchise with his friend Sam Miller this Christmas. But according to a GoFundMe page in his name, 7-year-old Sam was killed in an ATV accident last month, devastating his friends and family members.
"Sam was 7, and while he may have only been here for a short time in retrospect, he lived more than most adults I know," Sam's sister wrote in a Reddit post. "And boy, did he love Star Wars. The force was strong in this one."
Actor Peter Mayhew, more famously known as "Chewbacca," heard about the tragedy through a family member and reached out to Liam, offering his heartfelt condolences in a letter.
"I know that sometimes things happen and we can't figure out why and all we feel is sadness," Mayhew wrote. "It's important to remember the fun you had with Sam. Best friends are never really gone, they live on forever in our hearts and memories."
Mayhew's message immediately went viral when Sam's father, Scott Miller, posted an image of the letter to Imgur. The grieving dad also reached out to Mayhew on Twitter, thanking him for his kind words.
Sam's sister also reached out to Mayhew in her Reddit post, expressing gratitude for his kindness.
"I know Sam would have loved to know that Chewy knows who he is," she wrote.
Mayhew confirmed he wrote the letter in an interview with RadioTimes earlier this week.
"Liam's grandmother is a friend of my wife's sister," he said. "I hope my words were of some comfort to him."
Liam's mother wrote a note to the Miller family about the experience, and her words were posted to Sam's Facebook page.
"I know that Sam is sitting in heaven right now laughing his little tail off that Chewbacca is writing a letter about him," she wrote. "How awesome is that?"
Sam's GoFundMe* account has raised nearly $15,000 in just over 20 days.
*Disclaimer: ksl.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does ksl.com assure that the monies deposited will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit or donation you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.*
