COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – A 12-year-old boy from Columbia with cerebral palsy had the surprise of his life on Friday.
Banks Jones is a big fan of South Carolina Gamecocks and, thanks to some university students and a non-profit organization, his dreams are coming true.
“He just came back from surgery in June where they kind of realigned his legs with his tibia and femur, so he’s recovering from that surgery. In fact, he has rods and plates on both legs, ”said Banks’s mother, Mary Jones.
Banks has a strong passion for sports at the University of South Carolina in general, but especially for the Gamecock football team.
Banks discovered that he will be a VIP guest in the last home game of the Gamecocks season, when they face the 13th Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday.
“Everything is completely a surprise, which is good, and all these people are helping to make it what it is for him, looking forward to it,” said Callie Wiggins with Dream on 3.
Dream on 3, their new Collegiate Dream Team program, and the Kappa Sigma fraternity at the University of South Carolina worked to plan the surprise, raise money and promote the cause that helped make the dream experience possible.
“He can’t play on sports teams and stuff,” said Mary Jones. “So having these guys come and just treat him like a normal kid, bypassing the walker and throwing him on the ball was really an extension of support.”
To make matters worse, Banks will also be doing a private shopping spree at The Russell House Bookstore on the UofSC campus so that he can stock up on some new equipment before heading to the big game.
“Dreams come true, and if you focus on something, anything can happen,” said Wiggins.
It will be the first day that the young Gamecocks fan will certainly not forget.
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