This isn’t the first time it’s happened, and probably won’t be the last. Our man Shaq has reached out to help a young man in need of some Shaq-sized shoes. This time, it’s a teenager from Missouri with the really big feet.
16 year old Jor’el Bolden – at the age of 16 – is already 6-foot-5 and weighs 380 pounds. Big boy, for sure. Still, there are lots of kids growing to that size. For Bolden, it’s the shoes that are making his life difficult. Or should we say, lack of shoes… He currently wears a size 23 shoe. Not surprisingly, his mother says it’s been a struggle to find shoes that fit him comfortably.
Bolden and his mother first told their story on KCTV 5 in Kansas City, Missouri. Thanks to that station and to USA TODAY for info on this story. Not surprisingly, the story is all about how the young man and his mother are finding it hard to find shoes he can wear.
In a followup story, Bolden’s mother told the TV station that she got a really good message from a national TV magazine show: “Entertainment Tonight, they messaged me and she was like ‘someone special wants to talk to you’,” she told KCTV.
Turns out that “special someone” was our man Shaq. Here on the ShaqFu Radio blog, we’re always talking about him as the “big man,” and it’s true. He wears a size 22 shoe, and has talked about his shoe-stories many times in the past.
The BIG Podcast with SHAQ
Of course today, especially considering his new position with the Reebok sports apparel company, he’s got all the Shaq-sized clothing and shoes he wants and needs… but he’s always happy to help others who struggle to find ways of “fitting in” to the world.
Shaq and Jor’el spoke on Facetime, where he told the young man to keep an eye on his mailbox…to “expect some goodies.” Just a few days later, Bolden received three boxes full of clothes and 20 pairs of shoes! Mom told the TV station, “It’s better than Christmas morning. Santa didn’t send this, Shaq did.”
As we said, this isn’t the first time Shaq has reached out to help a teenager in need of jumbo-sized shoes. About a year ago, he did the same for Michigan teenager Eric Kilburn Jr. Shaq sent him shoes and clothes, as well as a few goodies for Kilburn’s younger brother Graesyn.
Bolden’s mother says that in the past, they’ve been able to find shoes of up to size 22 on Ebay, but even those weren’t big enough. She says the big shoes her son could find were still so tight they prevented him from going out and having fun.
For a time, the family thought they might be able to have special shoes made for Jor’el, but when they found out that such a special order would cost thousands of dollars, they started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money. As of this posting date, that campaign has raised about $12,000.
Mom says Shaq’s gift will certainly help her son for now. Money raised through GoFundMe will be used to buy “adult” shoes when her son grows up.
In the followup story on the TV station, Jor’el thanked Shaq. “Thank you for taking the time and the money that you have earned to give to me when I needed it. He said. “Thank you for all of the things that will come from it and that already have.”
Our man Shaq… coming through in a BIG way again!