A nine-year-old Australian boy has taken centre-stage at a major sporting event, days after a video of him in distress at being bullied captured hearts across the world.
Boy who was severely bullied at school gets invited to lead all-star rugby team out for their next match.
— ABC News (@ABC) February 21, 2020
Quaden Bayles, who has dwarfism, received an outpouring of support worldwide after his mom shared an emotional clip of him on social media. https://t.co/cDPab1Kxl3 pic.twitter.com/nXbH83aKji
Quaden Bayles, who is himself Aboriginal, led out an indigenous rugby league team in an exhibition match in Queensland against New Zealand Maoris.
Quaden's mother said he had always dreamt of being a rugby league star.
She posted the clip of him crying after he was targeted at school for dwarfism.
Quaden - you’ve got a friend in me. #BeKind @LokelaniHiga https://t.co/8dr3j2z8Sy pic.twitter.com/jyqtZYC953
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) February 20, 2020
Celebrities offered their support, and hundreds of thousands of dollars have since been raised as part of a campaign to send him to Disneyland.
The GoFundMe set up to help him has reached more than $450,000 in donations.
Fiji Airways is also donating plane tickets to help Quaden and his mother go to Disneyland.
Holding the hand of team captain Joel Thompson, Quaden led them out on to the pitch accompanied by roars from the crowd.
[Source: BBC]
