Pittsford, N.Y. (WBEN) - It's not every day when someone gets to meet their idol. For 4-year-old Camden, Day 1 of Buffalo Bills training camp is a moment him and his parents will not soon forget.
Wednesday was a special day for Camden and his parents, Alie and Matt, who made the trek from near Detroit, Mich. to check out training camp and get an up-close look at the Bills as they get ready for the upcoming 2024 season of football in Orchard Park. The hope for Camden heading into the day was to meet his favorite Bills player, quarterback Josh Allen.
However, in the weeks leading up to Bills training camp while celebrating his birthday, Camden found himself needing an unexpected trip to the emergency room.
"Camden here had a 4-year-old birthday party, and his theme he wanted all year was to have a Josh Allen birthday party. So we made it happen," said mom, Alie in an interview with WBEN. "Unfortunately, at the end of the party, he was playing with some friends out back, fell and he broke his arm. He's been in a cast for about four weeks, and we just got a new one with Bills red. And all he wants is for Josh Allen to sign his cast today."
Alie, originally from Buffalo, was looking forward to giving Camden the chance on Wednesday to get an up-and-close look at the Bills at training camp. All that was needed was a special visit from a certain Bills quarterback after practice.
"He's been to a couple of games, but this is a little bit more up close and personal," Alie said. "The signing of the cast would be the cherry on top. Hopefully we can make that happen, but just seeing him enjoy himself today is all [I need]."
Once practice ended on Wednesday, Alie and Camden waited patiently along the tunnel where the players enter and exit the practice field at the Polisseni Track and Field Complex on campus. When Allen emerged and made his way to the crowd assembled and cheering his name, it was Camden who got the first visit within the group.
"The stars aligned, and we were able to get him a signature," Alie exclaimed.
While Camden was excited to get a chance to meet his idol face-to-face at just 4-years-old, he was also able to meet and get autographs on his cast from others like tight end Dalton Kincaid, offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, and even mascot Billy Buffalo.
"That's one I think I'll probably remember longer than him. I think he'll remember this, for sure, but we got pictures, and we'll be keeping that cast forever, because that was cool," Alie said.
The good news for Camden is his parents asked his surgeon to be able to make it possible to keep the cast, knowing his trip to St. John Fisher was likely to be one to remember and cherish.
"They are going to have to strategically cut through the signatures, and then we will be keeping that cast for a very long time," Alie said.
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