Jim McElwain gave $5,000 to help former CSU football player

Athletics are about more than the final result of a sporting event. They build community and foster relationships — attributes the CSU football family has displayed over the past week.

Former Colorado State University defensive lineman Eli Edwards lost his wife, Isa Edwards, June 6 after a battle with lupus. Since then, Eli and his daughter, Ellyse, have been stuck in New Zealand — where Isa was receiving treatment — unable to afford to fly back to the United States and hold a funeral for his late wife.

To help cover the costs, Edwards setup a GoFundMe account asking for friends, if they were able, to give what they could to help bring his family home. The response has been overwhelming.

Since launching on June 8, the page has raised more than $20,000 for the Edwards family with many of the donations coming from CSU players and coaches, past and present. The largest donation was a $5,000 gift from MacFam LLC, operated by Florida football coach Jim McElwain and his wife Karen. McElwain recruited and coached Edwards at CSU.

Former CSU athletic director Jack Graham is listed as giving a $250 gift, former strength coach Mike Kent gave $500 and five anonymous parties donated $200 or more. The Rams' wide receivers coach Alvis Whitted and tight ends coach Jeff Hammerschmidt pledged $100 each.

In addition, former CSU players Jedidiah Teofilo and Blaine Saipaia hosted a barbeque Saturday at City Park on Saturday to help Edwards and provide more financial stability for his daughter. Teofilo said the hardest thing to think about during this is Ellyse Edwards growing up without her mother.

Numbers on how much money raised at the barbeque weren't immediately available.

For a full list of donors and to find out how you can give, visit www.gofundme.com/wj662jk.

For insight and analysis on athletics around Northern Colorado and the Mountain West, follow sports columnist Matt L. Stephens at twitter.com/mattstephens and facebook.com/stephensreporting.