The family established the GoFundMe in hopes of raising $50,000 to cover the cost of airfare, lodging and ground transportation for the Winter Games. As of Friday, $56,240 has been raised from 562 donations.
The Kelce brothers have taken a keen interest in Laila Edwards since the “New Heights” shoutout, her mother said. Laila personally thanked Travis via text message.
“Two years ago, when Kelce first gave a shout out to Laila, I thought it was huge and cool for him to acknowledge her,” Charone Gray Edwards said. “And then when she said ‘thank you’ to him, he responded. He’s been kind. So this is exciting that his kindness even went further.
Others have also supported the Edwards family’s effort to get to Milano Cortina, donating as little as $5.
“It’s amazing how supportive people have been and how they’re cheering and claiming her,” Charone Gray Edwards said. “I love how people are cheering her on and let her know they’re going to watch hockey now because of her.”
Ice Hockey in Harlem donated $1,500 to the Edwards GoFundMe. Eight girls from the New York Hockey Is For Everyone affiliate spent time with Laila; her sister, Chayla, a former Wisconsin defenseman; and their mother when they visited Madison in October and attended two games.
“We don’t have much, but what we do have, we’re willing to provide because she’s not only representing Cleveland Heights, she’s not only representing her family,” said JJ Velez, president of IHIH’s board of directors. “She’s representing every Black and brown young lady who’s ever put on some skates and a helmet to defy the odds.”
