8-year-old boy battling cancer going to prom

BARROW COUNTY, Ga. - It was an unexpected proposal for an eight-year-old boy battling cancer for the third time.

Alex Richards was diagnosed with cancer when he was four-years-old.  A little over a year ago he received a bone marrow transplant from his sister, but recently the cancer cells have returned and Alex is back in chemo.

On Sunday, a family friend, Shelby Butler asked Alex to her senior prom.

"I see what he goes through, he never stops fighting, he is always been kind of hero to me, a role model to never stop giving up," said Shelby Butler.  "I wanted him to be able to get out and have fun and not be stuck somewhere in one place."

Butler asked Alex Sunday by reading him a message she wrote on poster boards.

"Superman is cool because he has x-ray vision.  Superman is cool because he scales tall buildings.  Batman is cool because he drives the fanciest car on the planet.  Alex is cool because he never stops fighting.  I would like my superhero Alex to be my date to the prom."

Alex said "yes!"

"I think it will mean more to him when he gets older and looks back on it," said Sheri Richards, Alex's mother.  "Right now it is going to be a fun thing, but when he gets older and looks back on it; it is going to have a bigger impact on him."

Alex is known as a warrior in his family, for his courage and strength.  His family said it is inspirational. The prom is April 9.