Shaquille O’Neal.Photo: Prince Williams/Wireimage
NBA legendShaquille O’Nealhas come to the rescue of a teen who couldn’t find a pair of shoes that fit his size 23 feet.
When O’Neal, heard about the plight of Eric Kilburn, he picked up the phone and gave the 14-year-old a call. “I was flabbergasted,” the 6 feet, 10 inches tall Michigan teentoldHometown Life, adding: “My soul left my body for a moment, I was so shocked.”
O’Neal, who is 7 foot, 1 inch tall, and wears a size 22, said when he was the same age it was hard to find shoes that fit too. Thefour-time NBA championsaid had a special delivery coming, and he also had some words of wisdom to share.
Rebecca Kilburn, Eric’s mother, thenshared photos on her Facebook pageshowing the fresh haul her son had been sent. It included a hand-written letter from the team at Reebok which said: “Hoping these shoes we created for Shaq could be a fit and offer you some relief. We have a few more things headed your way, but wanted to get these to you asap. Know that we’re here to help and behind you every step of the way!”
The Facebook post said, “Reebok and Shaquille (yes Shaq!!! SO cool!!) had reached out saying that they would like to help Eric be more comfortable while he is waiting for his custom shoes, and that they had a few pairs of 22s made for Shaq in their inventory that they would like to send to Eric. The package just arrived and he is in shoe heaven!I quote: ‘Mom, I don’t remember getting to ever choose what I wanted to wear like this before, there’s so many options!’ "
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Now, the basketball Hall-of-Famer is even texting with Kilburn, and told him “There’s much more coming big man. Love you.”
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The teen didn’t even have a pair of boots for Michigan’s freezing winters, instead having to resort to wearing Crocs for the past two years.
His story not only reached O’Neal butUnder ArmourandPumatoo — with both sportswear brands promising to make custom shoes and cleats for the growing teen.
source: people.com
