RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) -
Havoc is headed to Brooklyn, as the VCU Rams travel to the Atlantic-10 Tournament in New York City. But it is an expensive endeavor for fans to make the trip and that's why an alumna made it her mission to send 56 Rowdy Rams free of charge.
"We have the best home court advantage in our conference," said Tori Valentine in an interview Wednesday. "I couldn't see Brooklyn without having the Rowdy Rams there."
The Rowdy Rams are students who energize the Siegel Center, traveling en masse to bring VCU's energy to games on the road.
Valentine is a self-described superfan of VCU basketball, a December 2012 graduate who started an online fundraising webpage for the Rowdy Rams' trip.
"It costs $8,000 to send all 56 people with hotel and travel costs," Valentine said Wednesday morning. "And now, we're $10 away from $12,000."
Valentine made her fundraising page Tuesday afternoon, and met her fundraising goal in about 17 hours.
"I was thinking, I would just have to refund a couple of people's donations if we didn't make it," Valentine said. "And I was getting prepared to do that."
Help is still pouring in with a donation from VCU alum Eric Maynor, a point guard for the Philadelphia 76ers.
"Maynor gave us a very awesome, awesome donation," Valentine said. "VCU's Coach Smart and his wife Maya gave us a great donation today as well. It's incredible. They're really amazing and we appreciate everything they do."
The Twitter hashtag #BookItToBrooklyn also helped to spread the word, with donations Wednesday night surpassing $13,200.
The Rams, seeded number two, tip off Friday at 6:30 p.m. on the NBC Sports Network. VCU will face either the University of Richmond or Duquesne, depending on who wins when they face off Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
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