PHILIPSBURG—Former National Football League player Duane Butler is vacationing with his family on the Friendly Island and took time out to visit with some young athletes.
Butler played college ball on a sports scholarship, played for the Vikings in the NFL, spent time in the Europa NFL and later spent time in the Canadian Football League.
Now he is a fitness coach at the Niagara Tennis Academy in Canada and while on vacation is an emissary for the Rotary Club.
Monday he delivered a suitcase of books and balls to the Little League Reading Program. He also spent time with the boys talking about the importance of education and fitness to stay healthy.
“Were you ever injured,” asked one of the 9-year olds. “Yes, several times,” said Butler as he lifted his NFL alumni shirt to show a scare on his rib cage. He then showed the group scars on his hands and arms. “It’s important to train hard so that if you are injured you can get back to playing quickly. That’s what I do now. Teach athletes how to train.”
Butler is part of the Rotary, “Having a Ball Making a Difference” program. The project kicked off back in March when members of the Rotary Vocation Training Team from District 7090 visited St. Maarten and surrounding Islands. The sports team donated balls to the local sports clubs and books. Each organization received a copy of Canadian author, Miriam Laundry’s “I Can Make A Difference “ book and “I Can Believe in Myself.”
The Make a Difference book shows how even a young child has the ability to help others. Since their return home, The VTT Rotarians led by Lezlie Murch have recruited travellers to deliver books and balls around the world.
Murch is the President of the Tennis Academy and asked Butler to deliver more books to St. Maarten.
The Having a Ball Making a Difference program has transformed into “Gift to the World.” Already books and balls have been donated to organizations in Mexico, Pure, Argentina and even down under to Australia.
Butler did not have a football with him Monday but promised the boys to come back later in the week throw them a few passes and help them with their training.
