WEST ORANGE — Debbie Thomas never stops. The mother of Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas stays busy.

Debbie was able to retire from Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD once Seattle drafted her son in 2010. This doesn’t mean she has slowed down.

The Earl Thomas Football Camp is proof she is one busy woman. She calls local media months in advance of the camp and then sends emails.

When the camp is getting close, she again works the phones to remind newspapers and television stations alike of the two-day event.

This is the part of her work that is seen. There are countless hours spent behind the scenes to make sure the camp goes off without a hitch.

“It takes a whole year,” she said. “Due to my busy schedule and so many things happening and traveling, it takes a lot.”

Debbie also had to help out with the wedding of her son and his wife, Nina, after the Seahawks’ season ended.

“It was a beautiful wedding,” Debbie said.

The camp comes together because she knows she needs to get some help. Earl brings in guys from around the NFL and former West Orange-Stark teammates.

Marshawn Lynch and his mother were in town to help Debbie pull off an event that saw more than 1,000 kids both Friday and Saturday go through drills with Earl and his buddies.

“You feel blessed when you see it come together,” Debbie said. “I breath a sigh of relief because it’s a blessing because they say hard work pays off. It all works together. Seeing those kids smile, that warms my heart.”

One of the guys who have come to Orange several years in a row is New Orleans Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro. The Saints drafted Vaccaro, a teammate of Earl’s at Texas, in 2013 with the 15th selection. Vaccaro and Thomas are both represented by Athletes First.

“It is always good to come back and support Earl and what he is doing in his community,” Vaccaro said. “He is doing great things. Giving back to his community has always been important to him. I am happy I can come out and help.

“I looked up to him all through my career at Texas. He is a great player and I am still trying to imitate him.”

Debbie said the Thomas family could not pull off such a successful camp if it were not for all the help they receive.

“The community help and family,” Debbie said. “We have some people who have helped with every camp so they have been here five years. We are so delighted because it is all about the kids. We want to encourage them to make good grades and pursue the next levels. So make good grades and be respectful.”

After this weekend, Debbie will ask Earl for a favor — a vacation.

“I have a lot of 3, 4 a.m. workouts,” Debbie said. “That is when I know it can be done and I can relax. After this camp, I want Earl to send me somewhere.”

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Gabriel Pruett: 721-2436. Twitter: @PaNewsGabe