TCU raises $30K for ill girl; donor flies her to game in private jet

By foxsports
Published

Kudos to TCU fans.

A student group at the university set up a crowd-funding page and raised $30,000 to help 7-year-old Iowa State fan Abby Faber. The young girl, who is suffering from cerebral palsy, was captured in a heartwarming photograph with TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin that went viral earlier this month when the Horned Frogs and Cyclones played in Ames, Iowa.

And FS1's Molly McGrath reports that thanks to a generous TCU donor who offered the use of a private jet, Abby and her family were also able to be in attendance for Thursday night's nationally televised game on FS1 between No. 5 TCU and West Virginia in Fort Worth, Texas.

She was wearing a No. 2 Boykin jersey when shown on the large video screens at the end of the first quarter, and got a huge ovation. The second-grader even stood Thursday night, supported by her mother, with her father and three older siblings also there.

"Great," Faber said. "I think it's much fun. ... I feel famous."

"It speaks volumes about TCU and the school and their alumni and their fans. Everyone we met today has just been incredible, so welcoming. We can't help but not love TCU," Abby's mother Jenny Faber said, her voice starting to crack. "The support from strangers, it's just awesome. It helps fill your heart back up."

Per McGrath, Boykin said he greeted Abby at that game in Ames because it felt like the right thing to do, and he was shocked that such a meeting could be used to help change someone's life.

"I just thought it was really cool at that time. (Boykin is) pumped up, ready for the game," Jenny Faber said when asked about the original photo. "To not only walk over to her but ask her what her name is and take that time is just truly a class act. It's very cool."

Classy move by Boykin and the entire TCU family.

The Associated Press contributed to this report