Valley residents helping Olympic mom go to Paris

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — It is Shaine-mania throughout the Rio Grande Valley with T-shirts, yard signs, flags and donations being made by friends and strangers to help Shaine Casas's mom get to Paris to see him compete in the Olympics.

Even though Casas's family is from the McAllen area, people are helping in fundraising throughout the Valley. They are making sure the people know where to buy and order shirts and signs from the family directly.

In Brownsville, Casas fans like Amanda Gonzalez have already bought shirts and shared them with others. Gonzalez says Casas's mother also deserves to be at the Olympics.

“In swimming, there are tiring days and it is like any other sport," Gonzalez said. "You do in the morning, in the afternoon and as a mom driving and getting up at 5:30 or 4:30 in the morning sometimes to make these meets and getting him where he has to go is a lot.”

Monica Rosales, The Aquatic Center Coordinator for the Brownsville School District, says that everyone wants to help out in some way.

“Everyone is super excited and everyone wants to help," Rosales said. "My swim people, when I was just eight years old were trying ways to fundraise money but this came up, and we are just all going to jump in the same bandwagon, so we can help. The mom needs to go. He has done such an amazing thing for the Valley.”

Rosales says many students who go to the Clark Aquatic Center are in awe that Casas's name and records are still on the wall. Although she met him just briefly during his high school career, she describes him as someone humble and dedicated.

Casas's mother, Monica Epling, says she is extremely grateful for the whole community coming together and adds that her son is grateful for what the Valley is doing.

“I can’t even tell you how much it means to us and how grateful we are," Epling said. "When I talked to Shaine, he was very happy and appreciative. He did say that is looking forward to come back after August when it's over.”

City of McAllen City Manager Roy Rodriguez said that the city is also helping raise money to help the family travel to Paris.

On Wednesday, July 3, the family is hosting a reception at the Art Village on Main Street. They hope that all those who have donated and continue to help can come out with their shirts and meet the family.