Pro Football Hall of Famer 'Joe D' is walking from Buffalo to Canton, seriously
Joe DeLamielleure has often stated "I'd walk to Canton if I had to", referring to the Pro Football Hall of Fame where he was enshrined 10 years ago. This year, to celebrate the special milestone, he's doing just that.
The former Cleveland Brown is nearing the home-stretch of a 10-day, 213-mile walk from Buffalo to Canton to raise awareness for children needing prosthetic legs.
Known to the fans as 'Joe D', he began the journey at the 50-yard line of his former home, Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., on July 10 and is expected to arrive at the steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH around 11am on Saturday.
DeLamielleure has attended the HOF ceremony in Canton every year since his 2003 enshrinement. But this year, he will attend the 'Golden Anniversary Reunion' and he wanted to make it even more memorable.
“I don’t want ‘em (my kids and grandkids) to say, yea, he was a great football player. I want ‘em to say, my dad made a difference,” DeLamielleure said in an interview with WJW Fox 8 TV.
Joe D’s walk has raised awareness and gained support for the Grace’s Lamp organization that deals with young children who grow out of their prosthetic legs but cannot afford the high cost of new adult prosthetic legs.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame will donate a portion of the ticket sales from this year's enshrinement to Grace's Lamp, in support of Joe D's cause. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, August 3.
For more info on the ceremony, Grace's Lamp organization, and to follow DeLamielleure's daily blog about the experience, click here.
