Avery Johnson is dedicating the rest of his season with the Kansas State football team to his former principal, Chris Botts, who is battling cancer. The sophomore quarterback has initiated a fundraising campaign to support Botts, aiming to raise $20,000, with each touchdown he scores—both passing and rushing—contributing to the total. K-State fans and supporters began donating on Wednesday, quickly raising over $600 in one-time contributions, with more expected as Johnson scores.
In a conversation with Botts shared on social media, Johnson explained the initiative: “Every touchdown I score this year will allow us to donate money to you through fans and everything like that. I want you to know how much I appreciate you and how excited I am. You are a real motivation to me with your strength. You’re not going through this fight alone.”
Botts was diagnosed with large-cell neuroendocrine thymic cancer in March 2022 and is currently undergoing clinical trials in Houston, which involve significant travel expenses for him and his family. Having formed a close bond with Botts during his time at Maize, Johnson felt compelled to help.
In response, Botts expressed his gratitude on social media, saying, “I’m speechless. What I love about you is that you’ve remained the same person from freshman year to today. You are humble and carry yourself in a way that makes me proud.” He ended with a playful challenge: “You better start scoring some touchdowns.”
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