ORLANDO, Fla. – This weekend, a well-known football family is hosting a wide range of events throughout Central Florida to celebrate a special young man and educate rising football players about a disease associated with their sport; a disease that contributed to that special young man’s death.
Ray Lewis III, affectionally known as Ray Ray, never met a stranger. Outgoing and well-rounded, he starred on the football field at Lake Mary Prep, breaking records, and earning opportunities to play the game in college and professionally. Playing football for all those years would take a toll on his health, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Sadly, Ray Ray died in June 2023 at aged 28 of an accidental drug overdose.
Shortly afterward, he was diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, which is a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated contact to the head or concussions. Athletes are one of the groups at most risk of CTE. Lewis III’s family had noticed signs, but CTE diagnoses are only possible after death.
Devastated by the loss but fortified by purpose and Ray Ray’s memory, his family is striving to educate others about CTE.
They established the RL3 Foundation. The nonprofit’s mission is to positively impact “the lives of youth, aspiring athletes, and musical artists through the promotion of drug-free living and the education of best practices to promote safety, while providing access to resources and opportunities for success.” The RL3 Foundation is hosting its annual Motivation Weekend with the CTE Sneaker Ball on Friday, June 5 at the Westin Hotel in Lake Mary, then Ray Ray’s Camp for Kids on Saturday from 9am - noon at the Apopka Fields of Fame, and the Music Fest on Sunday from 2 pm - 6pm at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs.
Ray Lewis III’s mother, Tatyana McCall-Wimberley, visited News 6 to discuss her son, the RL3 Foundation, and its great purpose. She sat down with Sports Director Jamie Seh.
For more information about the RL3 Foundation, the events this weekend, and to purchase tickets, go to www.rl3foundation.com/.