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SANTA CLARA — A tremendous wave of love and support, emotional and financial, is building in Santa Clara for a 16-year-old boy who remains in a coma from an ATV crash Saturday.
Britton Shipp is the focus of a lot of prayers and love tonight. His story is spreading on social media and throughout Washington County.
"It just shows how much Britton meant in this community," said Britton Webster, a close friend and fellow sophomore at Snow Canyon High School.
His friends call him a fighter, and that gives them optimism.
"Everybody knew him," said Webster. "Everybody loved him."
His friends said students at Snow Canyon High, even rival schools, are not hanging their heads: they're standing tall to support Shipp, optimistic he will come out of the coma.
"Walking around school today, everybody was in their Sunday best," said Webster. "Just to see how many people love and support Britton was amazing."
"He's going to need to be a fighter, which he is, because he has a long road ahead of him," said Kaleb Gates, who's been a friend of Shipp's as long as he can remember.
Shipp was on a "Sadie Hawkins" dance activity Saturday, riding an ATV with his 15-year-old date. A family friend told KSL-TV the ATV hit some water, hydroplaned, rolled over and fractured Shipp's skull. Neither of the teens wore a helmet or seat belt. Shipp has already been through a couple of surgeries. The girl will recover from relatively minor injuries.
Webster was on a hiking date of his own when he got a text informing him that Shipp was badly hurt. When he got home and learned the details, he was stunned.
"I just knelt down, and I started praying," he said. "It was really hard."
"We didn't really believe it," said Gates. "When we found out more, we went straight to the hospital."
Shipp's friends rushed to the hospital Saturday and gathered with his family. They stayed all night praying for his recovery.
"There were so many people there," said Webster. "Just to feel all of the love and support, the prayers we were giving to him, it really help me out a lot."
Support throughout the community and across Washington County swelled.
He's going to need to be a fighter, which he is, because he has a long road ahead of him.
–Kaleb Gates, Shipp's close friend
"I had no expectation it would take off so quickly," said Tori Hafen, a family friend who started a blog and an online fundraiser.
"We posted it, and within minutes someone had made a $50 donation," she said. "They commented, and said, 'I don't even know who you are, but I read your story, and I want to help.’ ”
Many people have already helped. The fundraising total for the family exceeded $20,000 in just two days.
His friends still struggle to put the accident in perspective as they pray for his recovery.
"It's really hurting us, but I just got to remember he's on God's time," said Webster.
On Monday, November 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. there will be a dinner, bake sale, silent auction and a concert at Snow Canyon High School commons and auditorium. Performers includ: Kalamity, Kaos, SC Cheerleaders, SC Eschelles, SC Madrigals, Siva Pacifica, Jadon Webster and Mikalene Ipson.
