ELVERSON, Pa., Oct. 14 (UPI) — A crowd-funding campaign has raised more than $95,000 to help the family of a 10-year-old boy with cerebral palsy singled out for Pope Francis’ blessing in Philadelphia.
The pope stopped his motorcade at Philadelphia International Airport on Sept. 26 to leave his car and present a special blessing and a kiss on the head to 10-year-old Michael Keating.
As Michael’s story spread — fueled by a Washington Post feature article about his family Monday — a donation website was established to raise money for a specially equipped van, a ramp for his family’s Elverson, Pa., home and other equipment.
Michael, his parents, Chuck and Kristin Keating, and his two siblings were present to watch the pope’s motorcade.
“We really had to be talked into it,” said Kristen Keating of the website. “We took this on. It’s not everybody’s responsibility to care for Michael.”
The 650 donations tend to be small, but have added up. The largest thus far has been $5,000, from Star Wars director and Lost television producer J.J. Abrams and his wife, actress Katie McGrath.
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