Thousands respond to call to help grant terminally ill boy Dorian Murray his final wish - to be famous in China

Crowds of people have gathered on the Great Wall of China, holding signs to help a dying boy achieve his dream of becoming famous in China.

Dorian Murray, from Westerly, Rhode Island, revealed his final wish to his father after doctors said his rhabdomyosarcoma, an acute form of muscular cancer, was untreatable after spreading into his spinal fluid.

Writing on Facebook, Dorian’s father recounted his eight-year-old son asking: “Hey dad, you know what I really want before I go to heaven?

“I would like to be famous in China… because that’s where they have the bridge [The Great Wall of China].”

The boy's father put out a call on Facebook asking people to share pictures of themselves on the Great Wall while holding signs with #D-STRONG written on them - a phrase, which has become a rousing slogan for the boy.

The appeal sparked a responses from thousands on social media.

Liu Ping, a tourism company CEO, told Chinese state news agency Xinhua she first heard of the eight-year-old’s request on Tuesday.

“I was touched by the boy,” she said, “he was so young but in the face of death he appeared so strong. I felt obliged to do something for him.”

Ms Ping posed for a picture at the Great wall and told other tourists of Dorian’s story who also posed with the signs.

"Some people from China Youth Travel Service arrived very early in the morning," Ms Ping added, "If more people had access to Facebook, I am sure there would be more photos."

Support for Dorian has spread across the country and even further afield throughout the world.

Primary school students in Beijing posted a sign reading: “Dorian, all the children of LVMS know you. D-STRONG” and pictures of people holding D-Strong signs have been posted from Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, West Lake in Hangzhou and the Huangpu River in Shanghai.

Dorian’s story even featured on the front page of the English language newspaper, the China Daily, last week

Well-wishers have also posted pictures of themselves with signs in Paris, Japan, Switzerland, The Marshall Islands and Italy.

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

Writing on Facebook, Dorian’s family said: “We are so amazed, and completely in awe of the response to Dorian's request.

“All I can say is, thank you. ‪#‎dstrong is no longer just a hashtag, it is a movement! Dorian has brought so much inspiration to people, around the world! I couldn't be more proud of my son.”