Prepping For 'Pros For Africa' Trip To Uganda

By LeAnne Taylor, The News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY -- It's been called the worst place on earth for children.  For nearly twenty years, Uganda has been filled with civil unrest with the children feeling it the most.

That's why a group from Oklahoma is heading there this month, to bring help and hope. 

In the group are some very famous Oklahoma athletes.   

Roy Williams is used to giving shots to the offense when he was at OU or now as a Cincinnati Bengal.  But when it comes to getting shots, he is not too happy, but it's all a necessary part of an upcoming trip to Africa.

Roy will be joining other professionals to help kids in Uganda. 

"It's kick off time, we're just starting the game. We've got a pretty good game plan. We're going to Africa. We're going to raise money. We're taking doctors, we're taking engineers, we're going to drill water wells and we're going to provide water to 130,000 people," said Reggie Whitten, Pros for Africa organizer. 

It's called Pros for Africa and Oklahoma professionals from all walks of life helping in Gulu, Uganda, where civil unrest has impacted the lives of children there. 

At a recent fundraising dinner at the governor's mansion, those involved and those who want to support the trip got together. 

A chance for them to get up close to the real pros, former Sooners Roy Williams, Tommie Harris, Mark Clayton and Adrian Peterson who will also be going on the trip. 

"I told Roy it's going to be a life changing experience. To see the people over there, the struggle they're going through but how happy they are. And we complain about the little things that we go through over here and we have so much but we find ways to complain about it. You go over there and they have so little but they're so happy with what they have. It's just going to be a great experience," said Tommie Harris, Chicago Bears. 

"It's not about the Sooners, or the Cowboys or Tulsa, it's not about that. It's about opening your heart up and helping somebody else beside yourself," said Roy Williams, Cincinnati Bengals. 

"I can't imagine but I know it will impact it just hearing the stories. I'm just excited to be in the atmosphere and offer all that God has instilled in me from hope to encouragement to laughter to physical ability, doing the wells and things like that," said Mark Clayton, Baltimore Ravens. 

Football players, doctors, lawyers, engineers and volunteers who want to make a difference for children a half of world away. 

I'm so excited to let you know that I'm going to Uganda as well.

We leave a week from Monday. 

We'll document the work of these Oklahomans and have live reports from Gulu, Uganda.  So look for those stories starting March 17. 

And mark your calendar for a half hour special airing April 21 at 7pm.   

For more information about Pro's for Africa, check out their web site.