To kick off the 2017 season, 12 lucky Kids Club Members had the night of their lives on July 26th as they won the opportunity to participate in the second annual Helmet Walk at the 2017 Training Camp Kickoff in Spartanburg, SC.
The randomly selected winners of the Kids Club ranged from ages 4-14. The kids and their families started their evening by arriving at Wofford College and attended the exclusive Carolina Panthers Kickoff party complete with a catered buffet, drinks, a private viewing area and tons of fun entertainment.
After chatting with head coach Ron Rivera, each member was paired up with a Panthers player and had the honor of carrying his helmet to the field during the first practice of training camp. Tight end Greg Olsen, linebackers Luke Kuechly and Shaq Thompson, and wide receiver Devin Funchess were among the group of Panthers to give these Kids Club members an experience they will never forget. Nine-year-old Luke Williams was seen talking strategy with Christian McCaffrey as they approached the field and six-year-old Mitchell Brady didn't miss a beat as he high-fived Greg Olsen in front of hundreds of adoring fans.
Both Kids Club Members and their parents were in awe of their up-close and personal interactions with the team. Rebekah Overcash, mother of Kids Club member Mason, explained, "The kids had an amazing time and talked to so many players! This is the highlight of their summer!"
The Carolina Panthers Kids Club is excited to continue to offer exclusive and exciting events like these and hope to create a tradition for years to come! If a child you know is interested in joining Kids Club, please visit www.panthers.com/fanzone for more information and be on the look out for more exciting opportunities for your Kids Club member!
View photos of lucky Kids Club members carrying players' helmets to practice on the first night of training camp.
