NFL draft prospects visit young fans at Shriners Hospital

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Less than 36 hours before one of the biggest days in their lives, over a dozen NFL draft prospects took time to put a smile on the faces of some of their biggest fans.

"You can just bounce smiles off of children's faces," said U.S.C. cornerback Adoree' Jackson. "Just being here in this type of atmosphere is always great."

The NFL and Shriners Hospital teamed up Wednesday for their annual Play60 All-Ability event, which encourages all children, including those with disabilities, to incorporate at least 60 minutes of movement in their daily lives.

The purpose, says Chris L. Smith of Shriners International: "To build confidence in their minds that they can continue to do and be active in life even after they've lost a limb or something like that."

14-year-old Alec Cabacungan is an aspiring sportscaster.

He has a disease that causes brittle bones. He has broken over 70 bones, and he has been at Shriners since he was just two months old.

"I'm so excited I get to interview some of my favorite players," he told Action News. "I couldn't ask for any more. This is just one awesome experience, and I'm just so happy to be here."

Anna Isaacson with the NFL says it's an important experience for all involved.

For the players, it shows them that sometimes their biggest impact goes beyond the scoreboard.

"Obviously this is one of the biggest weeks in their lives. And they're about to be drafted into the NFL, but with the responsibility to give back to community."

Wednesday's event was just a small part of the Play60 festival, which forms the cornerstone of many of the events featured during the NFL Draft Experience.

----------

Send a breaking news alert
Report a correction or typo
Learn more about the 6abc apps