It was a truly memorable week for 13-year-old Rhys Porter.
Porter, a Fulham fan with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and epilepsy, was bullied online “with thousands of hateful comments online discriminating my disability” after posting videos on TikTok of himself playing as a goalkeeper for Feltham Bees FC , a football team for the disabled.
Fulham, relegated from the Premier League last season, rallied around Porter, inviting him to train to work with goalkeepers Paulo Gazzaniga and Marek Rodák. The club’s website also gave Porter a player profile in the roster of the first team which listed his club’s history and included a player biography.
But on Saturday against Bristol City, Fulham added a touching chapter to the story as the team stepped off the pitch to celebrate Aleksandar Mitrović’s 50th-minute goal with Porter, who watched from behind the pitchside billboard.
Porter’s story went viral earlier this week when the United States men’s national team and Fulham defender Tim Ream surprised Porter during an interview on the British morning TV show. BBC breakfast.
“The day started with some emotion (yes, I held back the tears) and ends with an opportunity. I think @rhysporter__ had a bigger effect. [sic] in the team today compared to what we had with him “, Ream tweeted. “I’ve said it before, but he’s the definition of inspiration. Keep Being You #BubyRhys All of us @FulhamFC are behind you!”
From the initial online abuse, Porter has garnered more than $ 22,000 per scope, a British charity seeking equality for people with disabilities, taking part in the 13-day Make It Count activity challenge.
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