Children's Ambassador Deemed the Nuggets' Golden Fan
ESPN
May 30, 2009
Dikembe Mutombo and Nicholas Owens' friendship
blossomed at an early age.
Photo courtesy of the Owens family
Even when the Nuggets are down and the fans are booing, a young man in a wheel chair still has his arm extended to the team for high-fives.
Nicholas Owens was born with spina bifida, a crippling birth defect that has limited him to crutches and a wheel cheer for his entire life. At age 6 Owens was named the Denver Children's Hospital's ambassador and began to represent the hospital at fundraising events.
Owens' charm radiated towards then Denver Nuggets' player Dikembe Mutombo, and the two formed a friendship and a dedication to raising $1 million in three years for the hospital.
Nuggets players like Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, and Mark Pople have seen him through close to 30 surgeries, and in return, Owens has served as a source of inspiration and motivation for the team.
Coach George Karl says,"He's kind of a foundation, a rock. We want him there, we love him, and if he wasn't there, we'd definitely have a rebellion."
Read the full ESPN story.
