Vaught’s note: Former all-Southeastern Conference receiver Derek Abney wanted to add a few insights into a story I did about a month ago on the football camp another former Wildcat, Champ Kelly, will be hosting in Lexington June 21-22-23.
By DEREK ABNEY
The first CHAMP Camp was last year and went better than I anticipated. It is organized by a former UK football player, Champ Kelly, who’s now the assistant director of Pro Personnel for the Denver Broncos. I had never done a football camp prior to last year’s but, because of Champ’s character and dedication to a fantastic cause, I had to be involved.
There were roughly 150 children who learned football fundamentals and, more importantly, got to hear some good insights from positive role-models. Besides myself, some of those speakers included Alphonso Smith, John Conner (my favorite UK football player), Ellery Moore, a church leader, a NFL referee, and even Gayle Sayers. I can’t 100 percent confirm this but this year we hope to have some recent UK players all of us know! (Does anyone remember #18???)
Part of the reason I thought the camp last year was a success was the way the sponsors came through for the children. The sponsors not only made the camp fee affordable but also donated $7,000 – $8,000, with majority to UK Children’s Hospital and a portion to Urban Impact (Lexington inner-city, church oriented). The major donors were Dunkin’ Donuts, Nurse’s Registry, Lexington Legends, and Texas Roadhouse and most of the sponsors are signed up again.
I hope and anticipate this year will be bigger and better with more children, great speakers and more charity. However, the camp’s success is dependent on spreading the word and I encourage all to be a part this with me. This not only means having your children participate in the camp, but please tell your friends, co-workers and your church and get involved with advertising. The more people know, the more we can touch.
I also want to personally invite everyone to come down to Texas Roadhouse during dinner on Thursday, June 21 to meet me and the staff. I would love to say hello and thank you for your support in my college career and also for your community.
3 Responses to Former Cat Derek Abney will be back at Champ Camp, hopes even more will get involved in camp this year
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Derek, as always, I so love to hear from you here. As I have previously shared, one of my happiest memories as a Kentucky football fan is your breaking the record for returns for touchdowns. I had kept jumping up and down with joy, screaming my head off.
How I had respected and admired you, based both on what I had read about your background and what I had personally witnessed (including your taking the time to pose with a very young girl at a Cat Walk, a total stranger who had asked me to snap the picture) — what a role model you had been for young people! You will forever be an all-time favorite of mine, and while you’re speaking of thanking fans for their support, this fan, instead, just wants to say “THANK YOU” to you for all the wonderful memories of you as a player, plus your being such a fine young man and role model, something I had appreciated as a parent of two sons. GO CATS!!!
I forgot to mention that John Conner was a big-time favorite of mine, too. How sweet is his story of going from walk-on to a starting fullback in the NFL is (and Coach Brooks had promised Conner would be playing on Sundays)! I, too, had loved him from the start, frequently calling my own “favorite player” — and one I would surely want to see with the ball on “third and short” and in goal line situations — besides having such an appreciation for his blocking skills, which I feel sure is the case for you yourself. Anyway, thanks again for what you gave Kentucky and how you and others (and how about Ellery Moore’s own story — kudos to him for helping with the camp) and how you are still giving. Good luck with the camp, and best of luck in life, too. GO CATS!!!
I am so proud of these former players that continue to give back. They were great role models as players and they continue to be great role models.
They just completed a successful Champ Camp in Denver last week. In addition many Bronco’s players were involved in “Be A Champion in the Community Week” last week as well. Players visited a Children’s Hospital, A Ronald McDonald House, Denver Rescue Mission, Served food, Helped with four Habitat Houses, etc . All of our former U.K. players were involved. I found pictures & video’s of Wesley, Jacob, Danny & Champ working at these activities.
Champ Kelly has a foundation called Heart Power Inc. (Web-site is Heartpowerinc.org)
Wesley has a foundation called 16 Ways (Web-site is 16ways.org)
Don’t forget Jacob’s work to help with homes for veterans.
I would leave out something if I tried to continue.
Thanks again to all of these players & thanks Derek for news about our “Champ Camp”. All of these efforts are appreciated!