It was the picture seen around the world — a young man, ashen white and sitting in a wheelchair, with the lower part of his legs missing and a man in a cowboy applying pressure to the wounds.
But what many are now learning is that the wounded victim later helped FBI investigators identify one of the suspects and that online support for the man with the blown off legs has reached more than $570,000.
In earlier prints of the photos, viewers could see that the man in the wheelchair — later identified as Jeff Bauman — had lost both of his legs below the knee from a bomb that exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
Many have since learned of the cowboy hat-wearing hero’s story, in which he, Carolos Arrendondo (a father of two deceased sons, one of whom was killed in Iraq) rushed toward the bombing to help others, including applying pressure to Bauman’s injuries. But the story of the man with the injured legs continues.
The 27-year-old had been standing only a few feet from where the first bomb exploded. He was waiting to see his girlfriend finish the race when he saw Dzhokar Tsarnaev plant the bomb that left three dead and more than 170 injured.
Now, after Bauman helped the Federal Bureau of Investigation identify Tsarnaev — who was captured by police in Watertown, Mass. — Bauman’s family and friends have enlisted the help of thousands of Americans who locked eyes on Bauman just as he did with Tsarnaev.
Brooke Gibbs, a friend of Bauman’s, created an online fundraising page called “Bucks for Bauman,” on the site GoFundMe.com to raise money for Bauman and his family.
“We all knew you were the nicest kid,” the page says, “and now we know your the strongest.”(sic)
Thus far, more than 12,000 people from across the country have raised more than $570,000 for Bauman, and what began as a fundraising goal of $300,000 has now more than tripled to $1 million.
“There is no amount that could be too much,” wrote commenter Sarah Benedict. “In an instant, this young man became a hero. He lost his legs in an unimaginable way, and still provided information that led to the capture of the evil that did this.”
A bevy of donations has poured in since the page went active last Tuesday and the amount of money raised increases by the minute. Bauman, who is still recovering at Boston Medical Center, has garnered the support of Americans far and wide as his photo with Arrendondo has largely become an iconic image of the Boston terror attack.
“I hope you feel better,” said Maverick, a 10-year-old who donated $50. “I am 10 years old and am donating my allowance for the past few weeks in hopes that you feel better.”
Several others have raised support for the bombing victims, including Major League Baseball players and their associations who have raised more than $600,000 via One Fund Boston, a fund dedicated to the victims.
Crowdfunding sites have become popular outlets for those who wish to donate money toward the medical expenses of others. And thanks to the widespread generosity of others, people like Celeste and Sydney Corcoran (a mother and daughter who were injured near the finish line) are slated to receive nearly $500,000 in contributions to soften the blow of their impending medical bills.
