TCU fans raise $30K for Iowa State fan with cerebral palsy
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- A 7-year-old Iowa State fan photographed with TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin kneeling to speak to her in an image that went viral got to see her new favorite player again.
Abby Faber and her family attended the fifth-ranked Horned Frogs' game Thursday night against West Virginia. 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.
Thank you, Abby. We're honored to have you here! #FrogFam pic.twitter.com/csCdqDW8AF
— TCUAthletics (@TCU_Athletics) October 30, 2015
2nd Q "Give'em hell, TCU" line tonight is by 7-year-old Iowa State fan and @OGcURIOUSDEUCE fan Abby Faber. Perfect. pic.twitter.com/hVyM5Sh8VS
— TCUMagazine (@TCUMagazine) October 30, 2015
"Great," Faber said. "I think it's much fun. ... I feel famous."
When TCU played Oct. 17 at Iowa State, Faber was an honorary captain and wearing a Cyclones jersey for the pregame coin toss, when Boykin leaned down to the girl in her wheelchair and asked, "What's your name?" Fort Worth Star-Telegram photographer Paul Moseley took the touching picture.
"I just thought it was really cool at that time. (Boykin is) pumped up, ready for the game," her mother, Jenny, 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."
The second-grader, who has a form of cerebral palsy, stood Thursday night, supported by her mother, with her father and three older siblings also there.
A TCU donor provided a private jet for the Faber family to travel to the game from their home in Iowa. The family arrived earlier in the day and met with Frogs coach Gary Patterson.
Iowa State fans Abby Faber and family are decked out in TCU apparel tonight. pic.twitter.com/X5EOfqLWJa
— TCU 360 (@tcu360) October 30, 2015
A YouCaring page for donations for the young girl's medical expenses was set up and has raised more than $33,000, easily passing the original goal of $25,000. Many of the donations have come from TCU fans.
"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," Jenny Faber said, her voice starting to crack. "The support from strangers, it's just awesome. It helps fill your heart back up."
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