Avery Johnson hits $20,000 goal with help from BYU fans

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – After vowing to pledge money to his high school principal for every touchdown he scores this season, Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson failed to reach the end zone in a loss to BYU on Saturday.

But it doesn’t matter.

Johnson has already exceeded his original goal of $20,000 Help Dr. Chris Bottsthe principal of Maize High School, is battling stage four cancer.

Johnson helped raising more than $40,000 As of Tuesday morning. The new goal is $80,000 and is within reach, thanks in part to donations from supporters of Saturday’s opponent.

Multiple media outlets, including Utah’s Deseret News, have reported that donations from BYU fans played a major role in Johnson reaching his original goal. The newspaper reported that BYU believers had donated about $17,000 as of Monday afternoon. Some donated $38.09, the score of Saturday’s game, in favor of BYU (38-9).

Botts was diagnosed with large cell neuroendocrine thymus cancer in March 2022 and was declared cancer-free in October 2022. The cancer returned in 2023 and has metastasized, although Botts has received promising results from a clinical trial.

Botts flies to and from MD Anderson in Houston every Tuesday for treatment. Every third Tuesday he stays overnight in Houston for chemotherapy.

Johnson graduated from Maize in 2022. His campaign to help his former principal began with the BYU game and continues throughout the rest of the season. The Wildcats host Oklahoma State on Saturday.

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