Spanish professional soccer team FC Barcelona has reached out to Anthony Borges, shot multiple times in the Parkland school shooting while protecting classmates and others, to invite him to meet the team and attend a match.
FC Barcelona sent a shirt to Borges signed by the first team as well as an invitation to meet Lionel Messi and other players and see a game at Camp Nou once his recovery is complete, ESPN reported.
Fifteen-year-old Borges is still in the hospital recovering from five gunshot wounds to the legs and back that he received while barricading a door to protect 20 classmates at Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14. He's had several surgeries since the shooting to repair damage to his body.
When Barcelona became aware that Borges played for the club’s academy in Lauderhill in 2016, it wanted to help him in any way possible. Some of the team’s own doctors provided medical services to Borges, and the club set up a crowdfunding page to raise money for his medical bills.
The team tweeted it was “touched” by Borges’ heroic actions.
Borges’ father Royer Borges thanked FB Barcelona for its help and support.
“I thank Barca for all their support and for going to all this trouble to help cheer up my son,” he said, ESPN reported. “He never expected Barca to do this. Neither did I.” Royer Borges also said his son was “smiling so much” when he heard the voicemail from the team.
The GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $600,000 for Borges’ medical bills.
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