VSU football players are known to be great athletes, but Kyle Fox and Lance Helton are better known to be great people.
 Fox and Helton have been mentoring Cade Greenway, a child with autism, through a volunteer program provided by Coach Robbie Brown, offensive coordinator and community service director for the team, since this past summer. Not only have they help put a smile on Greenway’s face every time they see him, but Fox and Helton have also gained a life long friend.
 Finding young men to help mentor in the program was not an issue. Coach Brown said that when he asked for two volunteers for the program, Fox and Helton stepped up with no hesitation. “They gladly volunteered,” Brown said. “No one forced them; they did it from their hearts. They are doing something incredible and its great hearing how they impact Greenway’s life. They really care and Greenway’s mother can also see that.”
 Helton remembers first meeting him vividly. At first, the three had an awkward friendship, but now all three have a lot of fun in each other’s company.  “Greenway was very reserved at first,” Helton said. “But once he smiled, it made me feel more comfortable and changed everything.”
 As a P.E major, Helton spoke of his love for children and how every child deserves the same opportunities in life no matter what. He personally is drawn to children with special needs because they need just as much love and guidance as all children deserve. This is one of the reasons he wanted to become an educator. “It’s amazing what a little help can do for a child when it comes to shaping them as a person,” Helton said. His work started out only to lend a hand, but ultimately Greenway was teaching Helton how to gain precious skills in adapting to others differences.
 Fox gained a better understanding of what children with autism go through on a day-to-day basis. He started volunteering with Greenway to grow in knowledge and help people, two of the things he enjoys doing. Fox let it be known that his volunteer work at Habitat for Humanity and local middle schools meant a lot, but are small compared to the work he does with Greenway. “I’ve made a friend and I care about him and his well being very much,” Kyle said.
 On the field, Fox said that Greenway is in their thoughts. “On game day, I have to stay focused, yet I think about him,” said Fox.
While Greenway has never attended a game, Lance said that his soul is with them during their games.
“What they are doing is pretty remarkable,” Shawn Reed, employee of the VSU Athletic Department, said.
 Both Fox and Helton plan to continue volunteering with Greenway  even after the program and they graduate. “This is very rewarding and I will continue my relationship with Greenway even though I am busy now,” said Kyle. “But I will keep in touch with him as much as possible. I want to see him grow up and live.”
 Helton feels privileged just knowing Greenway and wants to help others understand that autism doesn’t limit a person’s abilities. Autism does not define who or what a person can become in the world. “Don’t think that what (we) are doing is extra, but (think of it) as a part of something that we’re supposed to do,” Helton said. “I’d like to thank Greenway’s family for letting us impact his life.”