CHAMPAIGN (WCIA) – Illinois football player Tailon Leitzsey is once again giving back to the community. The senior defensive back is hosting a free camp for kids on July 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Zahnd Field in Champaign. After nearly 200 children participated last year, Leitzsey is hoping for a bigger turnout the second time around and spoke with WCIA 3’s Brice Bement to make an impact in the Champaign-Urbana area.

Brice Bement:
“I’m here with Tailon Leitzsey, Illinois defenseman, talk to me a bit, it’s your second annual camp, what made you want to organize a second one?”

Tailon Leitzsey:
“I just wanted to be part of the change in the community and last year has been really good. I love kids and this was a great opportunity so I just wanted to keep doing it.

Brian:
“What do you get by organizing these camps? »

Cut :
“Honestly, it’s just a great feeling that I can make a difference. You know and that’s something I really want to do in my life is to be someone who makes a difference in whatever I am committed and a part of it, so knowing that I am able to make a difference in the lives of these children and that I might even be the one event that will completely change the direction of someone’s life.

Brian:
“And for those kids it’s a pretty exciting thing to do and they get to hang out with more Illinois football players, tell me a little bit about what it means to you that those guys want to come and help with the camp?”

Cut :
“Everything because they support my vision. You know, it’s something that some of them may have had the vision to do, but they don’t necessarily know how to go about it, but they saw the vision that I was trying to put in place and they supported me. It just shows that the look we have in there is really a family. They are my brothers and they come to support me.

Brian:
“Knowing that you could change the lives of some children and inspire them one day to continue playing football, what does it mean for you to be able to be that role model for these children?”

Cut :
“It’s good. Honestly, it’s bigger than football. Football is just a tool for me to have access to children and you know my goal is for them to see through this that they can do this what they want to do in life because i used to be in their shoes i used to dream of playing football and i got here so whatever they want to do whether it be to be a doctor, a lawyer, be an entrepreneur or whatever they want to do, they can do. So it’s really the point of this is to show them that if they have a goal and a dream, they can pursue it. It’s not because they don’t see a lot of people doing it that you can’t do it.

To register for the camp, click here: https://leitzseyfamilyfoundation.com/orange-and-blue-camp