NFL star helps local kids dealing with tough times

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Two weeks after his annual football camp, NFL star T.J. Duckett is back in his home town of Kalamazoo.

Duckett has started a new event to give back to kids. His mother died of cancer, and battled the disease throughout his childhood.

On Thursday, Duckett offered his friendship to eight kids, and took them out for a good time. His goal was to take away the kid’s worries for a day.

“When you’re twelve, ten, eleven, you want to go and do things, and be active,” said Duckett.

Each child Duckett took with him on Thursday has a parent who either has cancer or died from cancer, a very-grown up and tough thing to handle at such a young age.

Duckett knows that kids want to be kids, but that desire suffers when cancer enters the equation.

“I just remember when I was their age, and the things that my mother was going through, it really limited the things that we could do,” said Duckett.

Duckett is sharing his experience and reaching out to his new friends, even after Thursday is over, they can call him anytime and he’ll answer their questions.

“At the time I didn’t have anyone to ask questions to, that would have helped me out and maybe made things a little easier for me,” said Duckett.

After a day that involved such activities as visiting Formula-K, Duckett and the kids headed to the Radisson to have dinner at Burdicks.