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NFL player, Nashua native Reyes has field day

By Staff | Jun 7, 2016

NASHUA – The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua, in cooperation with Washington Redskins defensive end and Nashua native Kendall Reyes, held their fourth annual "R.E.Y.E.S. Family Field Day" on Saturday, when more than 125 local children competed for prizes in various athletic events.

The R.E.Y.E.S. – or Re-Engaging Youth through Exercise and Sport – family field day is offered to ensure athletic opportunities for youth at a time when getting kids outside can be a challenge for parents.

Joined by friends, family, and numerous volunteers, local kids aged 5-13 participated in a water Frisbee relay, an obstacle course, relay races, a fitness circuit hosted by Planet Fitness, and a wiffle ball challenge hosted by the Nashua Silver Knights. Proceeds from the event were donated to the Boys & Girls Club.

According to Reyes, he and his family founded the event in hopes of returning something to the city that raised him.

"I wanted to give back to the community that I grew up in, that did such a good job of bringing me up," Reyes said in a phone interview. "It’s all about the kids and giving them the opportunity to have fun and be kids. Basically it’s a big thank you to Nashua and the state of New Hampshire. I look forward to it every year."

Ryan Griffin, a Londonderry native and tight end with the Houston Texans, also participated in the event.

Following the field day festivities, Reyes and Griffin hosted a special fundraiser at the Arena Sports Bar on High Street aimed at raising money for the programs and services offered by the Boys and Girls Club, as well as two athletic scholarships offered by that organization. The two NFL players hosted a corn hole tournament, a special auction, and a raffle for a baseball bat autographed by retiring Red Sox slugger David Ortiz and tickets to an end-of-season Red Sox-Yankees game. The evening event raised over $8,000.

Bridget Cooley, Boys and Girls Club director of development, said the events are designed to promote being active and to highlight "the importance of leading an active lifestyle."

Cooley described Reyes, who was a club member when he was a youngster living in Nashua, as "generous."

"The whole day was about him supporting youth programs in Nashua," she said. "It went well considering how busy it was in the city. We had great weather."

For more information visit www.bgcn.com.

Matthew Medsger can be reached at 594-6531, mmedsger@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_MattM.

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