According to Entertainment Tonight, Ben and Mary became friends in the fourth grade. Their teacher at the time Tracey Spogli stated, “[Ben] watched over her constantly. If she was looking like she wasn’t having fun, he would go over and talk to her. He would pull her in to whatever activity they were doing. He just always watched out for her.”
Ben and Mary eventually ended up at different high schools in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with Ben at Susquehanna and Mary attending Central Dauphin. The two re-connected at a football game between the two schools with Ben playing quarterback and Mary helping to manage her school team. It was at this game that Ben remembered his promise to his old friend. Moser gathered some balloons, wrote “prom” on them and gave them to Lapkowicz who happily agreed to accompany him to the big dance.
When asked about Ben taking her to prom, Mary said “”I was surprised. I was going to go with some friends.” Ben stated he always thought Mary was cool and said it is no big deal having Down syndrome and people who have it should not be treated differently. “”Just be who you are and do what’s right.”
As expected Ben’s mother is very proud of her son, writing on her Facebook page
“[Ben] has grown into a man with a big heart, a deep sense of putting others first, and most of all making people feel special and loved. With joyful tears in my eyes and down my face I watched a promise made, seven years ago, to a beautiful girl fulfilled.”
