It wasn鈥檛 easy for Laila Edwards鈥� parents, missing much of their daughter鈥檚 formative years developing into women鈥檚 hockey Olympian away from her roots in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
Thanks to an outpouring of donations, including a major push from the hometown NFL brother tandem of Travis and Jason Kelce, they will be making the trip to join at the Milan Cortina Games next week.
A GoFundMe drive launched shortly after Edwards was named to the U.S. roster this month had generated more than $59,000 through Wednesday. The amount surpassed the goal of $50,000, and has the Edwardses making plans to bring up to 14 members of their immediate family, from maternal grandmother Ernestine Gray to Laila’s nephew Shiloh.
鈥淥h my goodness,鈥� mother Charone Gray-Edwards said this week. 鈥淚 was going to find words to describe the gratitude and appreciation. But I haven鈥檛 yet.鈥�
Said father Robert Edwards: 鈥淲e鈥檙e humbled by it.鈥�
The significance isn鈥檛 lost on Laila Edwards, who left home at 13 to attend the Bishop Kearney Selects Academy in Rochester, New York, before moving on to Wisconsin, where she is completing her senior season for the top-ranked Badgers.
鈥淥bviously, my name鈥檚 on the roster, but I feel like my whole family made it to the Olympics,鈥� Edwards told The Associated Press during a Zoom call promoting Downy Rinse. 鈥淎ll the sacrifices they鈥檝e made, the things they鈥檝e done to get me here, my parents, my siblings, I鈥檓 so grateful,. And for them to get to come and share the experience is going to be really special.鈥�
Edwards, who celebrated her 22nd birthday on Sunday, is considered the future face of women鈥檚 hockey and will become the first Black female hockey player to represent the U.S. at the Olympics. , and at 6-foot-1 (185 centimeters) and 195 pounds (88 kilograms) has speed and play-making ability galore.
Though she鈥檚 spent much of her life away from home, Edwards cherished growing up in Cleveland and rooting for LeBron James and the Kelces, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis and retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason.
She also got to know Blake Bolden, who is from Euclid, Ohio. Bolden is now a scout for the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and was the first Black player to compete in the National Women鈥檚 Hockey League.
鈥淐leveland is my home, and it means everything to me,鈥� said Edwards, who was dubbed by her following a U.S.-Canada game played there in November.
Though thankful for all , Edwards was wowed by the Kelce brothers. They not only contributed $10,000, but Travis Kelce reached out to provide advice.
鈥淗e was just saying, everyone鈥檚 got my back. He鈥檚 rooting for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 have to do that, but they did. And I鈥檓 really grateful.鈥�
Gray-Edwards was awed by the support from people she didn鈥檛 know.
鈥淚 was in Wisconsin this weekend and people are coming up to me saying, 鈥業 didn鈥檛 have much but I donated,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 like, 鈥榊ou don鈥檛 understand, every dollar counted. Every dollar.鈥欌��
The preliminary plan is to use whatever money is left over in giving back to the community, whether it鈥檚 providing hockey equipment or free ice time.
鈥淲e really want to honor the money that鈥檚 been given to us,鈥� Edwards said.
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