What started as a vacation for K.J. Wright became an eye-opening experience for the Seahawks linebacker.
Wright, along with former teammates Byron Maxwell, Malcolm Smith and Mike Morgan, went on a trip this offseason to Kenya, Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates looking to experience different cultures, go on a safari and have a good time. But while in Kenya, Wright also realized there was an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of some of the children he met in Kenya.
"I went there this offseason and had an amazing time," Wright said. "I loved it. When I was there, I noticed this young girl had dirty brown water. So, I just wanted to help this community. The young ladies have to walk many miles twice a day just to bring back water, and when they do get the water, it's not even clean. Millions of people suffer from (a lack) of easy access to (water), and I just want to bless this community that blessed me."
To try to help make a difference in Kenya, and in particular for the children of a school they visited in Maasai Mara, Wright is donating $300 for every tackle he records this season, with the money going to construction of what he hopes will be two fresh water wells for the village. Wright originally planned to donate $250 per tackle, but because a knee injury kept him out of six games, he upped the total to make sure the campaign can reach its goal. Wright hopes he and fans willing to participate can raise $50,000 to cover the cost of two wells.
As of Thursday, more than $8,000 had been raised already, $1,500 of it from Wright's five tackles against the Lions and the rest coming from donations. Anyone wishing to add to that total can do so by donating at Wright's Healing Hands International page.
"I want to make this a community effort, I want everyone to feel a part of it, I want everybody to feel involved because I think it's a really good thing to just help people in need, so that's something I'm doing," said Wright, who plans to return to Kenya next offseason.
As Wright put it, the goal of his trip to Africa was originally "just to have a good time. I wanted to experience it, I wanted to take a safari, I wanted to go to the ocean."
And Wright did go on a safari and he did have a good time, but while visiting those kids in Kenya, something sparked, as he put it.
"It just touched my heart," Wright said. "Me and the guys talked about it when were out there, we were like, 'Man, I got to do something for this community.'"
While at a dinner with locals, Wright was given a Swahili name that translates to "the one that gives hope."
"I really took that to heart, the one that gives hope," Wright said. "I kind of feel like that's been my purpose my entire life to help people, help people reach their full potential and just to give back, because life is bigger than us, it's bigger than K.J. When I can leave this world a better place, I've done my job, so we've got to make that happen."
The Seahawks face the Chargers at SoFi Stadium for Week 7 of the 2022 season. Take a look back at photos from the past games between the two teams.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jim Zorn (10) prepares to hand off against the San Diego Chargers on December 13, 1980 at San Diego Stadium in San Diego, California. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Terry Beeson (58) blocks a field goal during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers in Seattle, Wash., Sept. 2, 1979. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Brian Peets (88) tries to break away from San Diego Chargers cornerback Willie Buchanon (28) during an NFL game in Seattle, Wash., Sept. 2, 1979. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Seattle Seahawks running back Curt Warner (28) runs upfield during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Jack Murphy Stadium on September 15, 1985. The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 49-35. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Seattle Seahawks Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent (80) beats San Diego Chargers defensive back Daniel Hunter (27) for a 23-yard scoring reception during an NFL game in San Diego, Calif., Dec. 14, 1986. The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 34-24. (AP Photo/Damian Strohmeyer)
Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent (80) is double-teamed by San Diego Charger defenders Martin Bayless (44) and Danny Walters (23) during first quarter action in the Kingdome in Seattle, Nov. 22, 1987. Largent gained 29 yards on the pass play. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
Seattle Seahawks Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent (80) tries to elude San Diego Chargers defensive back Daniel Hunter (27) during an NFL game in San Diego, Calif., Dec. 14, 1986. The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 34-24. (AP Photo/Damian Strohmeyer)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bob Spitulski (58) is seen in action during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers Oct. 30, 1994, in San Diego, Calif. (Allen Kee via AP)
Seattle Seahawks nose tackle Cortez Kennedy (96) leaves the field after play with San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau (55) in San Diego in 1994. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
San Diego Chargers running back Rodney Culver (22) is tackled as he attempts to rush upfield with the ball during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks Sept. 10, 1995, in San Diego, Calif. (Allen Kee via AP)
Seattle Seahawks running back Steve Broussard runs for yardage against the San Diego Chargers during an NFL football game on November 9, 1997 in San Diego, California. The Seahawks won 37-31. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback John Friesz throws a pass against the San Diego Chargers during an NFL football game on October 25, 1998 in San Diego. The Seahawks won 27-20. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy (96) is seen in action during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers Sept. 10, 1995, in San Diego, Calif. (Allen Kee via AP)
Seattle Seahawks running back Steve Broussard (31) is seen in action during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers Oct. 25, 1998, in San Diego. (Allen Kee via AP)
Seattle Seahawks' Derrick Mayes (87) gets a big hug by teammate Sean Dawkins (81) after catching a 14-yard pass from Jon Kitna against the San Diego Chargers for a score in the third quarter in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 12, 1999. San Diego won the game 19-16. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks receiver Darrell Jackson runs with a reception during a NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers in San Diego on December 30, 2001. Seattle won, 25-22. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
29 DEC 2002: Seattle Seahawks Shaun Alexander during a game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday December 29, 2002, in San Diego , CA. (Photo by Matt A. Brown/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
San Diego Chargers receiver Malcom Floyd battles Seattle Seahawks defender Ken Hamlin for a pass in the end zone during first quarter of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander (37) runs as San Diego Chargers' Terrence Kiel moves in on a first quarter run in a football game Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander, left, and San Diego Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson talk after the 20-17 win for the Chargers in a football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander runs in untouched past San Diego Chargers' Marlon McCree on a 9-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
A fourth round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, rookie tight end Scott Chandler #87 of the San Diego Chargers blocks strong safety Michael Boulware #28 of the Seattle Seahawks during the NFL preseason game on August 12, 2007 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 24-16. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Charly Martin (13) goes out for a pass during an NFL preseason football game Seattle Seahawks while covered by cornerback Marquis Floyd (29), Saturday, August 15, 2009 in San Diego. The Seahawks won the game 20-14. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones (22) breaks away from the tackle of San Diego Chargers' Matt Wilhelm, right, during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game Monday, Aug. 25, 2008, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
SAN DIEGO - AUGUST 25: Cornerback Marcus Trufant #23 of the Seattle Seahawks breaks up a pass intended for leaping wide receiver Chris Chambers #89 of the San Diego Chargers during the game at Qualcomm Stadium on August 25, 2008 in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Seahawks 18-17. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Seattle Seahawks running back Robert Turbin (32) leaps over San Diego Chargers cornerback Richard Crawford (35) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (85) hauls in a touchdown pass as Seattle Seahawks defensive back Shaquill Griffin (26) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Seattle Seahawks center Ethan Pocic #79 during an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017 in Carson, Calif. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cyril Grayson (13) catches the ball as Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Randall Evans (41) defends during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
