Former LSU lineman La’el Collins donates bikes to 71 Baton Rouge families
By Andrew Olson
Published:
We all have our favorite holiday memories. There are certain presents we’ll always remember unwrapping.
For former LSU OL La’el Collins, it was a green bike he was told to pick out at his elementary school.
“I remember that just being the best gift that I got that year,” he told The Advocate’s James Bewers. “It was sweet.”
Collins set out to recreate that feeling for children whose parents may not be able to afford a bike this Christmas. With the help of his agent, friends and childhood pastor, Collins organized an event called “71 Days of Christmas,” after his jersey No. 71.
“This is home,” Collins said. “This where I started. This is where I’m from. I remember just being in these kids’ shoes. I remember something I wanted for Christmas. Just being able to know there’s good people here and know that growing up I had good people around me, to come back and be a part of this new generation that’s here, receive the bikes today, it’s huge.”
Bewers notes that Collins signed autographs and took pictures with fans in his Dallas Cowboys jersey.
“He’s a big guy with a big heart,” long-time friend David Richardson said. “He’s very soft-spoken but, at the end of the day, this is his chance to start giving back to the community of Baton Rouge. He really couldn’t wait to be here. He said this was more of a Christmas for him instead of the kids because this is his chance to give back to Baton Rouge.”
Hats off to Collins for making so many Baton Rouge families’ Christmas extra special this year.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
