Kalamazoo -- Lions safety Louis Delmas was back at his old stomping grounds Saturday afternoon, watching Western Michigan's spring football game at Waldo Stadium.
"It's great to be back," said Delmas, who played for the Broncos from 2005-08, leading them to two bowl appearances. "It's one big Western family. It was great to be able to come back and shake some hands."
Delmas was happy to get the chance to see his former coaches and teammates. He also took the opportunity to put on a fundraiser BBQ with proceeds benefitting Haiti.
Delmas, who has a Haitian background, said his biological parents were in Haiti at the time of the January earthquake killed more than 200,000 people. He said he has had contact with his mother, but has yet to hear from his father, grandmother and cousins.
"As far as the spring game, knowing they'd have a lot of alumni come out, I felt it was a great opportunity for me to get the word out that Haiti is still going through a crisis right now and needs help," Delmas said. "We have family over there so I took it upon myself to really reach out and show I support them.
"My Mom's OK, but I haven't talked to my father yet or grandma or cousins. I hate to beat a dead horse about saying they've passed, but reality says they've passed. I haven't heard from them to this point and none of my family has either. I hope they are all right. I'm still praying for them."
Delmas, who grew up in Miami, is preparing to make a trip to Haiti this summer. It will be his first trip to the country since the summer before his freshman year in high school.
"I plan on going back in July to deliver all the food and items myself to show I care and I'm trying to do everything I could to reach out," Delmas said. I know it's going to be a hell of an experience.
"It's not going to be what I'm used to, which is pretty beaches."
Delmas, 23, a second-round pick last year, had a fine rookie season with the Lions.
david.goricki@detnews.com
Source: DetNews
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