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When a player on the opposing team makes a terrible mistake on a big play, the reaction for many sports fans is joy: our team is going to win!
But not every sports fan.
In a crucial rugby game, with only 90 seconds left, the Eagles scored a touchdown, narrowing the gap with the Wolves to 27-25. They needed another two points to tie the game, which was vital for both teams.
Then the ball was passed to Mark, an Eagles player at the goal line. He caught it… and dropped it-he seemed to slip on the snowy field. The whole season did come down to that play. And the Eagles blew it and lost the game. Their season was over.
But at least some Wolves fans felt sympathy, even when they celebrated their victory.
Mark has diabetes (糖尿病), and two Wolves fans set out to raise money for a charity supporting diabetes research that he has supported. Their language sounds just a little different from the sharp words some football fans like to use when discussing the game. "We just want to spread love; that's really what we want to do," they said.
They ran a social media account and decided to start a charitable drive. "To be honest, we want our team to win. But we want to bring both bases together and say, 'Hey, this is more than a game!' We've got complete respect for Mark even though he was playing against us," they said.
Their effort has raised over $146,000 from more than 4,000 donations. At first, donations were mostly from Wolves fans, but as word spread, fans of the Eagles and other rugby teams joined in.
Mark was disappointed about the game result but deeply touched. "I've seen heartfelt love and encouragement," he said.
The two fans said they remained supportive to the Wolves. But going forward, they added, "We're definitely going to have a soft spot for the Eagles."