Satisfaction in the Rain!

Yesterday morning I drove from my office in Hillside, New Jersey to conduct Posture and Scoliosis Screening at the Rashad Baker Football Camp and Community Health Fair in downtown Camden, New Jersey. While I was going there it started to rain. By the time I arrived there at 8:13 AM it was raining fairly hard and to put my papers under the tent would have been useless. I decided to not conduct the screenings but to stand on the sidelines for almost FOUR HOURS and watch children from the inner city, with the rain coming down very heavy at times, enjoying themselves and participating in the many activities their instructors were putting them through. Their ages ranged from 5-18 and groups were divided up according to their ages.

For almost FOUR HOURS these children about 90% American of African Decent, 7% Hispanic, and 3% Caucasian the weather meant absolutely nothing. They were enjoying every minute of the drills the instructors were putting them through and were maintaing focus on what they were being challenged with and were disregarding the weather.

There were even comments made by some of the adults present that the rain was a relief from the heat we had this past week. One genleman commented that the rain was easier to deal with than the excruciating heat they had a few years ago when the temperature was in the upper 90's.

I personnaly found it rewarding watching these children and watching their faces with the accomplishment that they were achieving, even though they and I were completely drenched. I know the impact that football has had on my life through decipline and preparation and I hope these camps do the same for the children that are participating in these football camps.

Rashad Baker has been doing these football camps for the children of Camden for the past 6 years and I believe it is helping to implement a positive attitude on the children of the Camden area and I am proud to be a part of it for the past few years and I will be there next year.