The Wyoming Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes is making preparations for a second “Wyoming in Haiti” trip, set to take place May 11-17. This marks the second-straight year the FCA has organized a trip to the island to help Haitian youth.

University of Wyoming football student-athletes and coaches will travel to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to assist the local church of Lyonel Narcisse, the father of former Cowboy football player Ruben Narcisse, who was killed in a car accident in the fall of 2010. The group will provide assistance to an orphanage in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, which is assisting children devastated by the destructive earthquake in 2010. The earthquake left more than 200,000 people dead and 1.6 million homeless.

The group also will administer sports camps for local children. Last year, 26 UW coaches and student-athletes from various sports made the trip. When the Wyoming contingent travels to Haiti in May, members will bring shirts and a variety of sporting equipment that has been donated for the children of Haiti.

“We have the opportunity to build on the relationships that were forged in 2012 by returning in 2013,” said Aaron Frude, FCA Representative for Southeast Wyoming and the University of Wyoming. “After a tremendously successful trip last year, this group eagerly awaits a return in 2013.”

Former Cowboy defensive lineman Mike Purcell made the trip in 2012.

“We went down there with the mentality that we wanted to help the people and the children of Haiti, but I think it turned around for us once we got down there and helped us appreciate what we have here,” Purcell said. “I think it meant a lot to all the people we met, not just the kids.  They are the happiest people I’ve ever met. They definitely brightened my life.”

To provide funding for the trip, the Wyoming chapter of FCA will accept donations. To date, nearly 45 percent of the total trip cost of $20,000 has been raised.

“I believe last year’s experience was a great one for our student-athletes and coaches who traveled to Haiti,” UW head football coach Dave Christensen said. “It is important for our team to give back when we have the opportunity. This trip is very important to our team as it honors a young man in Ruben Narcisse, who was part of our program. We want to continue to remember Ruben, and remember his dream of helping the people of Haiti, a country where many of his family is from.

“It also provides us a great opportunity to maintain our connection to Ruben’s family.  We once again want to thank Lyonel Narcisse (Ruben’s dad) for helping us organize this trip and for allowing us to be part of helping the people of Haiti.”

One of the FCA’s fundraising events will be Saturday, April 27 prior to the Annual Wyoming Spring Football Game when the UW Football team will host a “Football Fun Day” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium.

The “Football Fun Day” is free of charge and open to all youth eighth grade and younger, and will include the entire UW Football team who will run drills with the children participating, as well as sign autographs.  Attendees are encouraged to purchase special “Wyoming in Haiti” t-shirts that will be available for purchase for $15, with a majority of the proceeds going directly to the FCA fundraising effort.  “Wyoming in Haiti” t-shirts will also be available at the Brown and Gold Outlet for $15.

Parents will need to register their children in the stadium the morning of the event.  In case of inclement weather, the event will take place in the Indoor Practice Facility adjacent to the stadium.

Donations will also be accepted at the “Football Fun Day” and at the Spring Game, which kicks off at 2 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

For more information on the “Wyoming in Haiti” project or to donate, please contact Aaron Frude with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at 307-760-1391 or at afrude@fca.org.  Donations by check may be made payable to the Rube Foundation and may be mailed to:

SE Wyoming Chapter of the FCA

c/o Aaron Frude

P.O. Box 2256

Laramie, WY  82073

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