Crabtree, fellow Packers hit the pavement

DE PERE - Far from running square into fellow football players, Packers tight end Tom Crabtree slowed down to take on a much harder-to-see opponent. Crabtree took part in the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes, held Saturday at the Brown County Fairgrounds.

Crabtree led the walk, and also organized his own team of walkers, including several of his Green Bay teammates. Receiver Jordy Nelson and punter Tim Masthay both walked with their families, while fellow tight end Ryan Taylor and tackle Marshall Newhouse showed their support as well.

“It's a lot about the charity itself,” said Crabtree. “People sharing their stories.”

Crabtree has his own story to share: his wife, Chelsea, has type 1 diabetes.

“Not only are we trying to find a cure for millions of other people with type-1 diabetes, but my wife as well,” said Crabtree.

The other Packers players who showed up were happy to support their teammate, lending their names and feet to a good cause.

“Tom Crabtree said something to us in the locker room, if we didn't have anything going on, we should come out and walk,” said Nelson. “Obviously it's for a great cause.”

Crabtree spearheaded the organizing efforts, not only amongst his teammates, but on his team. Sporting t-shirts with the picture of a crab wearing sneakers (think “crab walk”), Crabtree’s team was well represented among the large amount of walkers.

“Tom did a great job kind of organizing this team, asked a bunch of us to come out,” said Masthay. “It's a great cause, so we're happy to come out.”

According to the JDRF’s website, Team Crabtree raised over $12,000 at the walk.