KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Eleven-year-old Nolan Turner and his sister Ella created a "Go Vols" banner for his birthday - a Tennessee vs. Florida watch party.
"It was super special. It's one of our earliest fundraising ideas for our memorial fund. It's a banner that hangs up in his room and it was what we all kind of agreed on he would love the most," said Jesse Turner, Nolan's dad.
Nolan was born close to the third Saturday of September. Many of his parties involved his family watching one of the most important games during the Vols football season and Nolan was excited to celebrate his birthday watching Tennessee football.
"It was always kind of a centerpiece at their birthday parties that a Vols game was getting played," said Turner.
With his friends in their orange and white, cheering on the Vols and booing the Gators, the "Go Vols" banner was held high in his room, where it still hangs today.
"It's one of our, his, last pieces of art that we get to look back on and Ella got to help him with it," said Turner.
Nolan and his mother, Courtney Turner, died in a drunk-driving crash one month later. Ella broke several bones but has since recovered. A GoFundMe was created by the family, raising more than $20,000 so far.
For the funeral, Nolan's fifth-grade class wore orange and white.
To pay tribute to their legacy, The Nolan & Courtney Turner Memorial Fund was created to spread positivity within the community and enrich the future of those in Nolan's graduating class and beyond.
"We really wanted to make a positive impact on our community in their name and their honor," said Turner.
The VolShop announced Thursday they will help support the fund by offering a limited tee with Nolan's banner art. The proceeds will go directly to The Nolan and Courtney Turner Memorial Fund.
"The VolShop is all about embodying the volunteer spirit and doing things like this for families of huge vols fans," said Cory Hamm, assistant marketing manager for the VolShop.
You can preorder the tee on the VolShop website.