The Moving Story Behind How Demi and Tim Tebow First Met
Good Things Guy | 12.02.2026 20:30
A night celebrating people with special needs led to a phone call that neither of them could end. Before Demi-Leigh Tebow and Tim Tebow ever met face to face, they were already connected by compassion.
South Africa (12 February 2026) – Before they ever met in person, Demi-Leigh Tebow says she already knew.
“Something has to go terribly wrong for this not to work out,” she remembers thinking — a line Tim Tebow still recalls from those early days.
Their story didn’t start with romance; it started with Franje.
Demi-Leigh’s late younger sister, Franje, was born with an extremely rare condition called cerebellar agenesis, meaning she was born without a cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for motor control, coordination, attention and aspects of language. Living without it can bring profound developmental delays and physical challenges.
Franje shaped Demi’s world long before Tim entered the picture. She taught her about patience, inclusion and what it means to truly see someone.
Tragically, Franje passed away in 2019. But her impact didn’t end there. In many ways, the compassion and advocacy that define Demi’s life, and her marriage, are part of Franje’s legacy.
When Demi learned about Tim’s initiative those many years ago, their paths crossed.
Through the Tim Tebow Foundation, Tim founded Night to Shine, an annual worldwide ‘prom’ for people with special needs. The night celebrates guests as kings and queens, giving them the kind of joy, recognition and dignity that is so often missing.
Tim heard about Franje and reached out through his foundation to invite her to America for the event.
After emailing back and forth with Demi, the two of them hopped on a phone call, and the rest is history. A quick ‘five to ten minute call’ lasted two hours, 24 minutes. Tim remembers it down to the second.
“Here comes this American guy that loves people just like my little sister and puts up an event that makes people like her feel seen and loved and valued.” shared Demi in sharing their story with The Skinny Confidential.
That mattered more than anything to Demi. Meeting someone whose heart was already shaped by loving a sister like Franje changed everything for Tim, too.
Their relationship grew from shared purpose. Now, the couple have been married for more than six years and welcomed their first child in July last year. Together they’ve become a ‘power couple’ for good.
Night to Shine is coming up soon. It takes place this Friday on 13 February. The event will stretch across 63 countries at 822 churches with over 107,000 guests. This year, Cape Town’s Kings of Kings Baptist Church and Bay City Church will host the ‘prom night’ locally.
