TAMPA, Fla. (CBS4) – While the Broncos were pulling out all the stops trying to snag Peyton Manning as their quarterback, current starter Tim Tebow helped pull off an emotional surprise in Florida.

Tebow appeared at a fundraiser Friday night in Tampa and met a wounded veteran who served in Afghanistan.

U.S. Army Ranger Romy Carmargo had no idea Tebow was coming and was happily surprised.

The soldier was shot in the neck and is now a quadriplegic.

“He’s a real, true-life hero, so it’s very special to have the chance to hang out with him,” Tebow said.

Eddie DeBartolo, the former owner of the San Francisco 49ers, helped make the surprise happen.

“I believe I’m going to get up out of this (wheelchair) even if it takes me the rest of my life,” Carmargo said. “I’ve got the rest of my life to do it.”