Fans from both sides of the bitter NFL rivalry between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys have teamed up for a great cause. A total of over $4,000 has been donated to the family of a banner pilot who died in a plane crash earlier this month.
#BeyondTheRivalry pic.twitter.com/WO9Qrxpwyg
— EROCK (@TheMightyEROCK) August 17, 2015
It's interesting how this donation effort came about. Let's recap. It all started when a group of Eagles fans decided to raise money to fly a plane over Cowboys training camp practice with a banner reading "We Got DeMarco". Cowboys fans then responded with a fundraiser of their own, one which Dallas defensive end Greg Hardy supported by contributing his own money. The plane hired by Cowboys fans flew a banner reading "We Still Dem Boyz. #SacksComin" over the Eagles' open training camp practice at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Aug. 9. It was embarrassing for Cowboys fans, however, because the plane interrupted the National Anthem during Military Day at Philadelphia's home field.
The Eagles' plane was scheduled to fly over Cowboys practice later on that Sunday, but it never happened. Reports emerged that a plane crash occurred at the airport where the Eagles fans' banner plane was scheduled to take off. It was originally thought that the "We Got DeMarco" plane crashed, but it turned out that the Eagles fan who organized the fundraiser (@TheMightyEROCK) was not connected to the tragedy. Instead, it was a different banner plane that crashed.
Despite this, Eagles and Cowboys fans obviously still felt terrible for the pilot who lost his life. So they teamed up and used money from their banner fundraisers to support the family of the deceased pilot. More from the fundraiser page:
"Thank you to everyone who contributed to this cause. I spoke with the pilot's wife last week, arrangements were made, and now some relief (and much needed) is going to this family during this difficult time. The total amount, regardless or gofundme fees, has been sent to the family. His wife had no idea who I was, who we were, or the story behind the "banner wars".....but in one of the lighter moments during our conversation she interrupted me and said "Wait...I thought Eagles and Cowboys fans hated each other". While hate is a strong word (yet incredibly accurate) we're all human, and I think it showed in this very brief but perfect example.
Thank you all again, it's your kindness that speaks volumes about these two fan bases. Dallas...we'll you week 2.
-EROCK
PS - we still got Demarco."
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Very awesome job here by Eagles and Cowboys fans alike. The two sides were able to put a bitter rivalry aside and help a family in need.