Buffalo Bills fans are regarded as one of the best and friendliest fanbases in the NFL, but even the best can have some bad apples.
Eight-year-old Mia DeCamilla had going to an NFL game on her bucket list and after beating cancer twice, she was happy as could be to have that be a reality when she attended the Bills-Niners snow globe game Sunday night.
Unfortunately she was forced to leave early after being shoved down stairs by drunk fans and having her family pelted with snowballs.
WKBW Channel 7 News has the full story –
“We got there a little early. I knew it was snowing. We’re from Rochester. It takes about an hour and a half,” Mia’s father Mikey DeCamilla said.
The Rochester native and her father recounted the events that led to them leaving by halftime, over Zoom on Monday.
“From the beginning, these folks behind us. I don’t know if it was the same guy or not. I didn’t pay attention, but they were, on purpose, throwing snowballs at Niner fans. They even said it out loud, ‘We’re going to be hitting Niner fans in the head all game,” DeCamilla said.
It got to a point where one man, who they described as belligerently drunk, was antagonizing nearby Niner fans.
“I’m going to barrel through these Niner fans anyway. He’s coming up and he just starts to barrel through and push people out of the way. He kind of tried to bump into me and got past me. When he got past me, it was Mia and he pushed her,” the father explained.
She happened to fall in the lap of another Niner fan, which broke her fall, he said.
Her family created a Facebook which has captured the attention of Buffalo community advocates, notable football players and even the Buffalo Bills staff.
I asked Mia is she planned on ever returning to complete her full game experience, but she shook her head ‘no’,
However, according to her dad, the Buffalo Bills staff is looking to make things right by inviting them back to a game.
Young Mia was in high spirits during her interview Monday night.
“I am feeling great,” she said with a smile.
“I hope that the Bills realize that there’s an issue and you need to have security and make it more a family atmosphere and family event rather than a party house.”
Mia is an advocate for childhood cancer.
She has overcome it not once, but twice.
The situation is hurtful for the DeCamilla family, especially since she gives back to the Western New York community through advocacy.
“Having people understand the different types of cancer,” DeCamilla said. “Kids are really impacted these days with cancer. All the things that Mia got during this difficult time, it meant a lot to us so I really just want to give back and do the same thing,” the father shared.
Mia is no stranger to 7 News. In July of 2023, she spoke with Derek Heid about her 18-month long fight with cancer.
