Wherever she went on Saturday, Valerie Brewer carried a handful of white T-shirts.

She was a star that afternoon as thousands turned out at a fundraiser for her son at Galuppi's Restaurant & Patio Bar in Pompano Beach. Professional athletes, cheerleaders and politicians all came by and wished her family well.

But her son, burn victim Michael Brewer, couldn't be there. So she carried the T-shirts for any important signatures to get.

``This is incredible,'' said Valerie Brewer, who often introduced herself as simply, ``the mom.''

``I'm overwhelmed.''

Brewer has been hospitalized at University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Burn Center since Oct. 12, when a group of schoolmates surrounded him, doused him in rubbing alcohol and set him on fire.

Prosecutors have charged three teens as adults with second-degree attempted murder.

But all the Brewers' pain and misery was set aside for a few hours on Saturday.

Three Miami Dolphins players, including quarterback Chad Pennington, signed autographs. So did two team cheerleaders. Stanley C. Panther also stopped by.

Santa Claus arrived in very un-North Pole-like fashion: aboard a Pompano Beach fire truck to the sound of emergency sirens.

At first glance, it could have passed as a small carnival, with bounce houses, hot dogs and face painting included.

Except everything was donated, and all the money went to help the Brewers.

The day also featured silent auctions, raffles and a golf tournament. Late Saturday, organizers estimated they had raised at least $50,000.

The day also included two presentations to the Brewers: a college tuition scholarship for their son from Everglades University and free home healthcare from Boynton Beach-based AllianceCare when he gets home.

And the fundraising will go on, with more contributions expected from fundraisers going into December.

Capturing it all on her camera was Stacey Rybak, a mom from Lake Worth. She, like most at the event, never knew the Brewers but sprang into action when she heard what happened.

First, she collected donations from her neighborhood. On Saturday, she served as photographer.

``I would like to know if that happened in my life, people would come out for me,'' Rybak said, in between pictures.