Terron Armstead – an offensive linesman for the Miami Dolphins – bought a new bike and a minivan for an eighth grader and his family after learning that the kid walked six miles to attend his middle school graduation in St. Louis, Missouri.
Xavier Jones, a 14-year-old with sickle cell anemia – a group of disorders that cause red blood cells to become misshapen and break down – was gifted with a $5,000 Ryan Pritchard electric bike during a celebrity basketball game led by Armstead’s eponymous foundation on Friday after the NFL player learnt of his determination to succeed in the face of adversity.
‘We hear a story like Xavier. It’s only right,’ Armstead, a local from Cahokia, Illinois, told local outlet KMOV. ‘Follow Xavier’s example. He’s a leader whether he wanted to be or not. His story is inspiring. It’s motivating. That’s what leaders do.’
Raised by his grandfather after his mother passed away a ‘few years ago’, the eighth-grader has six siblings and holds a perfect, 4.0 GPA despite growing up in poverty.
‘The shoes that he walked in had holes in the bottom, holes in the top,’ Darren Seals – Jones’ mentor – told KSDK. ‘Two-and-a-half-hours walk. A long road, I wouldn’t have walked it.
‘He did what he had to do.’
Harris-Stowe State University president Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith was so moved by Jones’ dedication and perseverance that she granted him a full-ride ‘Presidential scholarship.’
The money will cover four years of tuition, housing, books, and fees, starting in 2028, when Jones is expected to graduate from high school.
‘I wanted to get my graduation and all my awards and stuff,’ Jones told KSDK of the reason behind his six-mile journey, adding ‘my grandpa, his car died’ on the day of his graduation ceremony.
‘I wasn’t expecting this,’ Jones also told KMOV.
After receiving his new bike, Jones shared that he was ‘glad’ to have attended his own graduation ceremony ’cause I didn’t have to walk anymore.’
With aspirations to become a NASCAR driver one day, the teen is determined to ‘get to college without paying for anything.’
But for now, Jones’ next step is to continue his education at Lift for Life Academy.
‘I’m so grateful to these two sponsors for their generous donations and for helping us make a difference in Xavier’s life,’ Armstead shared on Instagram, thanking both Ryan Pritchard’s e-bike brand and Bommarito Automotive Group for contributing to the charitable gifts.
‘Let’s keep spreading love and positivity!’
The Terron Armstead Foundation’s goal is ‘to educate and challenge those seeking opportunities to become the best version of themselves.’
The non-profit also holds both basketball and football youth camps for kids in the summer.
