Nationwide — Jor’el Bolden, a 16-year-old teen from Kansas City, Missouri who struggled to find shoes that fit his size 23 feet, recently found unexpected relief and support from his local community and none other than former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal.Jor’el shared his struggle being unable to find fitting shoes without having to go for pricey custom-made ones, which could cost over $1,000. His mom, Tamika Neal, who raises him alone, stepped in and launched a GoFundMe to get him the right shoes. It has so far garnered more than $11,000.
The response from Kansas City was heartwarming, with generous donations pouring in to support Jor’el. Even national media outlets like Entertainment Tonight picked up his story, catching the attention of Shaquille O’Neal.
Shaq, moved by his story, reached out to him. The encounter was memorable, with Shaq playfully greeting Jor’el, who was shirtless at the time, with a friendly, ‘What’s up, big sexy?’
Less than a week later, three big boxes arrived at Jor’el’s doorstep. The boxes contained not only new clothes and shoes but also items straight from Shaq’s own collection.
“It’s better than Christmas morning. Santa didn’t send this, Shaq did,” Neal told CNN.
Among the haul was a box that contained nearly 20 pairs of shoes. While Shaq wears a 22 wide, it turns out Jor’el finds a 23 more comfortable. These shoes are a big help for now, but as he grows, he’ll need even bigger ones.
The funds raised will play a part in securing even bigger shoes for Bolden’s future needs. Jor’el was grateful for everything that he received.
“Thank you for taking the time and the money that you have earned to give to me when I needed it,” Bolden said. “Thank you for all of the things that will come from it and that already have.”
Looking ahead, Jor’el, inspired by Shaq, aspires to become a professional athlete, harboring dreams of becoming a boxer someday.