READING, Pa. – The Lonnie Walker Foundation Basketball camp is a beloved summer tradition for young people in Reading.
“What they’re learning here by playing the sport and working as a team, we also have to do the same thing,” said Reading Paramedic & Firefighter Benjamen Miller.
But amid the jump shots, team building exercises, and skills training lies another focus.
“These people sacrifice their lives every single day making sure everyone is protected,” said Corey Kemp, Camp Director.
Lonnie says that for this year’s camp, he’s giving a shot and a shout-out to first responders to teach kids what they mean to the local community.
“I think it’s important to a lot of these kids to know that it’s more than just basketball,” said Lonnie Walker.
“Obviously, this is a basketball camp, but it’s always a bigger picture thing as far as growing and finding yourself as an individual and showing inspiration and motivation from all the other people,” Walker added.
Honoring first responders like Reading’s fire chief and police chief, as well as a former camp volunteer and Army first responder, Cristine Gonzalez, who died in a flood in Texas last year.
“She was more than just a first responder. She was our best friend,” Walker said.
“She was the protector of the house. She was one strongest females I’ve ever been around, and to put it behind her name, we always wanted to do this because these people sacrifice their lives every day to make sure everyone is protected,” Walker added.
The Lonnie Walker Foundation is not just about teaching skills on the court; it’s educating kids about the impact of life-saving efforts off of it.
“You have to acknowledge what they do for the city and for the community, and I think it’s important for the kids to identify and understand this,” shared Walker.