Schools

VIDEO: Hester, Wade Help Kids Take Away More Than Fundamentals

The star athletes ran sports camps in New Lenox last week, but they said teaching life lessons is as important as showing kids their moves on the field and court.

As a toddler, Bears star Devin Hester's parents split and his father later died of cancer when he was 14. As an adult, the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade went through a long and public divorce and won full custody of his children this year.

But as fathers, both professional athletes are committed to being the best role models they can be for their children. That attitude has rubbed off on them to help teach others' kids as well.

During the two-day camps they led last week in New Lenox, Hester and Wade taught hundreds of kids the fundamentals of their sports but also the importance of hard work, teamwork and homework.

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"When you look at kids you see yourself," Wade said Thursday. "You see so much opportunity and the future for these kids and you just want to be able to help them any way possible. It’s what you do with that spotlight that’s going to determine you as a man."

Both athletes drilled home points that will help kids succeed on and off the field.

Find out what's happening in New Lenoxwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The No. 1 thing I want to tell you is listen to your parents," Hester told a group of campers. "At the end of the day, they’re in it for your health and for your benefit. Stay in school and do your homework. I know a lot of you want to play football, but once you get into high school, that’s when the grades are really important."

Most kids shared the same sentiment of 9-year-old Daniel McGrady of Frankfort: “He’s my favorite player, so it’s pretty cool.”

When asked what they learned at the camps, most kids jumped to something related to sports (9-year-old Larry Burks of Frankfort said, "I learned to cause a lot of separation from the defenders.") but they'll certainly take away more than that thanks to the guidance of Hester and Wade.


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