BTS member Jimin touched hearts after sharing a sweet moment with a pediatric cancer patient during the group’s recent Arirang concert in Texas. The move has since inspired ARMY to extend the kindness beyond the stadium by launching a fundraising campaign for children and families affected by cancer.
Heroes for Children, a nonprofit organization supporting families with children battling cancer, helped arrange pediatric cancer patients to attend the Arirang concert in Arlington, Texas last August 15.
READ: Lea Salonga reveals why V is her bias in BTS
Among the young fans was Olivya, who had an unforgettable moment with Jimin when the BTS member walked toward the audience during the concert.
After making eye contact with her, Jimin warmly embraced Olivya before giving her a light kiss on the cheek.
Overwhelmed by the unexpected interaction, Olivya excitedly exclaimed repeatedly, “I got a kiss!”
READ: BTS’s new song 'Body to Body' doubles as lifesaving beat for hands-only CPR
Heroes for Children later shared the touching moment on its official social media account on August 17, giving fans a glimpse of the special memory Olivya took home from the concert.
“Still not over this moment 🥹💜Thank you BTS for giving our girl Olivya the sweetest hug at last night’s concert in Arlington! A core memory she’ll never forget. 🫶✨,” the organization wrote.
The interaction quickly resonated with ARMY, with fans praising Jimin for giving Olivya such a meaningful experience.
“His love has always felt so genuine, and this sweet gesture for Olivya is another beautiful reflection of that 🥹 Wishing this brave girl much strength, comfort, and brighter days ahead!” one fan commented.
“This beautiful moment was the highlight of the Arlington concert, everyone has been so moved by this lovely interaction. I hope this sweet little girl keeps smiling and treasures this moment with @j.m for a long time. Sending lots of love to Olivya 💛,” another added.
As Olivya’s story continued to spread, BTS ARMY together with Heroes for Children, launched a $100,000 fundraising campaign to support children and families facing childhood cancer in Texas.
ARMY worldwide soon rallied behind the cause, sharing several amounts of donations to help the organization reach its goal. As of writing, the fundraiser raised $83,522.69 or more than ₱5.1 million, according to the organization’s website.
Total funds raised by BTS Army X Heroes for Children as of August 20 at 2:50 p.m.
But the fandom’s support did not stop with online donations.
ARMY have also organized the event called DFW Hero Games Fun Run, which will feature a fun run, community field day, and poker tournament on September 26. The event will raise additional funds for pediatric cancer patients and their families.
This is not the first time BTS has inspired ARMY around the world, including Filipino fans, to share their generosity.
In the Philippines, local fans have organized several fundraising efforts over the years to support communities and causes close to their hearts.
In 2021, ARMY from Cavite raised more than ₱200,000 in relief funds for families and communities affected by Typhoon Odette, which caused widespread destruction across the country, damaging homes, agriculture, and infrastructure and leaving at least 400 people dead.
READ: BTS RM named first global ambassador of National Museum of Korea
That same year, Filipino fans partnered with Save the Children Philippines and raised ₱80,000 to provide children with essential BTS kits (Back-to-School kits) or learning kits, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to affect students and their access to education.
Local ARMY have also worked with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), raising more than ₱120,000 for environmental education programs for Filipino children.
The generosity of BTS and their fans also echoes the group's own advocacy. Last year, BTS received a Presidential Commendation at the 5th Korea Good Donation Awards for their Love Myself campaign with UNICEF Korea in 2017. The campaign promotes self-love and seeks to help end violence against children and young people.
BTS then became the first South Korean artist to receive the honor, according to BIGHIT Music.