Eagles playoffs: Super fan has ultimate dream of singing national anthem at Bird's game
The backstory:
CHESTNUT HILL - Meet Amira Heep of Chestnut Hill. The 24-year-old is a huge Eagles fan. So, as you can imagine, having a job at the Linc as a greeter is the perfect job.
"I love talking to the fans and watching the game at the same time. Everybody at the same time, all together, having fun, watching the Eagles," Amira explained.
"Have you always been an Eagle's fan?" FOX 29’s Dawn Timmeney asked.
"Always, since I was a kid," she replied.
Amira, who has Down syndrome, has never let her challenges hold her back. She was recently named Star of the Game by the Eagles Autism Foundation.
"Stunned, shocked," she explained her emotions on that occasion.
And happy and honored. But probably one of her more memorable moments was a game Amira and her dad attended a few years back, courtesy of the Eagles. Amira says, "I was on the field and A.J. Brown waved at me and I was like, ‘Did he just wave at me?’ I was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’"
Amira's dad, Jeremy Heep is, hands down, one of her biggest fans. He says, "Very proud and inspired by her. I think what she's taught me over many years is that one can accomplish so much by perseverance and trying."
Big picture view:
Amira's greatest love is music and she hopes to combine her passion for singing and fervor for football. This gifted young lady's absolute dream is to sing the national anthem at an Eagle’s game.
"That would be amazing. I've been singing since I was five or six years old. My dream come true, singing on the field," she explained.
Amira has performed the national anthem at Special Olympic events before hundreds, like one back in 2019.
And she knows she could nail it at the Linc.
Her dad says, "Her voice is spectacular. She's always been just an absolute beautiful singer and it's just been such an enhancing part of our lives," Jeremy remarked. "Maybe someday, you'll get to watch her on the field. That would be so touching. Would love that."
Amira is hoping Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie or someone else in the front office takes notice and helps make her dream come true.
In the meantime, she'll be at Sunday’s game, seating and greeting fans and cheering on the Birds. And, by the way, she is confident her team is going to go all the way.
The Source: Information in this story is from FOX 29 reporter Dawn Timmeney who spoke with Amira Heep and Jeremy Heep about Amira's goals.