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Williams: 'The reaction is awesome'

Running back Le'Veon Bell will join 10 other NFL players on a trip to Egypt as a part of American Football without Barriers (AFWB).

Williams is on the board of AFWB, a non-profit that hosts camps to develop American football in other countries. The camps help support football clubs in leagues in those countries, while encouraging sportsmanship and physical activity.

The group will work with the Egyptian Federation of American Football and conduct a coach's camp and football camp, which will culminate in an All-Star game. They will also reach out to the community in other ways, including a visit to a children's hospital to see cancer patients and LeBaladna Development Foundation, an Egyptian non-profit that serves underprivileged children.

"Knowing the impact we have on kids around the world is special," said Williams. "We are spreading football around the world. We didn't have the opportunity as kids to be able to rub shoulders with NFL players even living here in the States."

Williams got involved with the camp through Gary Barnidge, who he was a teammate of when both were in Carolina.

"Gary and I were really close and he asked me if I wanted to come," said Williams. "I had never been out of the country and we went to China on the first trip.

"It was great because we were spreading football. When we went they had six or seven teams and I think now they have over 50. It's grown by leaps and bounds."

This will be the fourth such trip that Williams has embarked on, previously going to China, Brazil and Turkey.

"It's a great experience for the players too," said Williams. "We are passing the knowledge along. When we went to China they didn't think they could play football like we do and they can. Going to Brazil, where soccer is prevalent, the footwork there was amazing. It always astonished me how many women play football. Every club there has an American football team there for men and women and they play it on the beach.   

"The reaction we get is awesome. We reach out on social media afterwards. I just had a guy hit me up on Instagram, one of the MVPs of the camp, and said it was one of the best days of his life and he shared a picture of me and Marshawn Lynch."

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