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RAISING FUNDS — Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson set out to devise a plan well beyond his years.
The sophomore signal caller announced before last week's game against BYU that he would be donating $1,000 of his name, image and likeness money for every touchdown he scores for the remainder of the season to help Dr. Chris Botts, Johnson's high school principal who is battling a rare form of cancer for a second time.
Botts was initially diagnosed with cancer when Johnson was a rising star at Maize High in Wichita, Kansas, and he's now participating in a clinical trial during is second bout with the disease that include weekly visits to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
The only issue with the fundraiser? Johnson's drive started with a 38-9 loss to BYU, when the Cougars held the dual-threat passer out of the end zone.
Enter BYU fans.
The fundraiser spread among the Cougars even before the game. But by the end of the weekend, when BYU rose to No. 22 in the national rankings on the back of a 4-0 record, it had easily eclipsed Johnson's initial $20,000 goal.
Johnson's family doubled the fundraiser; and with the help of BYU fans and several others from around the Big 12, the goal was again matched.
As of Thursday morning, the pledge drive had raised more than $55,000 for Botts, who was initially diagnosed with large-cell neuroendocrine thymic cancer in 2022 that went into remission in October — before it returned in January 2023, according to WIBW in Topeka, Kansas.
Here's tonight's story that aired at 10 on BYU fans leading the charge for Avery Johnson's fundraiser for his high school principal, Chris Botts.
— Jason Kinander (@JasonKinander) September 25, 2024
Huge thank you to @thebotty for allowing me to share his story and this story.
These past few days have inspired countless people. pic.twitter.com/VQPKty5q92
Many of the donors were self-identified BYU fans, with several donations marked for $38.09 — a cheeky nod to the score of the game between the Cougars and Wildcats.
"Seeing the love from BYU ... holy ... what? What a great testament to the people of Utah and Brigham Young University," Botts told the TV station.
Several fans left messages of support for Botts and Johnson on the fundraiser's page at champsraise.com.
"Just another BYU fan, who has become an Avery Johnson fan," wrote one fan who identified himself as Craig Farrer. "Thanks for what you do!"
Added Brenda Wells, who likewise donated $38.09: "Having been a high school principal, I recognize and understand the love Botts has given to the students, forgetting himself. May God bless him and family as well as QB Johnson. Best of luck to the family and to the KSU team. (and Go Cougs!)"
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