Hard work and dedication.
That's what more than 200 athletes exuded as they attended the inaugural ' Light it up' football camp.
The two-day camp allowed athletes from across Northeast Ohio to compete and hone their skills.
PHOTOS: First Annual Light it Up youth football camp
The event, hosted by Ted Ginn Jr. and the Ginn Elite Football Program in collaboration with Damion Creel, head football coach at Beachwood High School, aims to use football as a tool to influence the lives of young men.
"I feel like I’m saving a life," said Ginn Jr., a wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints.
"You know, somebody came back and put the foundation down for me to be able to come out in my community, so I’m just trying to put the foundation down to help another kid be able to come out," said Ginn Jr., stressing the importance of bringing these events to his hometown.
One young man, that's benefited from having football as a platform in his life is New Orleans Saints cornerback, Justin Hardee.
"Football changed my life. It taught me discipline, showed me how and what it really means to work hard. You know, just to being around everybody, the commitment and the relationships it builds."
Hardee, alongside other NFL athletes like Shelton Gibson, Travis Kelce, Marshon Lattimore and others, served as coaches throughout the camp.
With more than 20 years of coaching experience, Damion Creel says the lessons that football has to offer go beyond the gridiron.
"[Football] provides so much structure, so much discipline, so many life lessons that our kids need," Creel said. "They're not getting [those lessons] in other places,and football can provide that for them."
At the camp, athletes ages 8 to 18 were not only able to test their talents against some of the city's best, they also had the guidance of some current NFL players.
The camp served as a catalyst to help young athletes develop the necessary skills to take not only the football, but their dreams to the endzone.
For more information on the Ginn Elite Football Program, click here.
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