Peyton Manning direct the Broncos’ offense during their Week 1 win over the Ravens. (Steve Nehf, The Denver Post)
Dana Benbow of The Indianapolis Star on Wednesday thanking the Broncos’ quarterback for flying her friend who is dying of breast cancer to Denver for Sunday’s game against the Ravens.
The friend, Kari Barnett Bollig of Rock Springs, Wyo., has stage 4 breast cancer and has recently written letters to those that who have meant something to her — teachers, friends, family. Manning was one, and his letter was the only one Bollig mailed.
After receiving her letter, Manning flew Bollig, 45, and her husband, Ed, to Denver and gave them tickets and sideline passes to the Week 1 game against Baltimore. The two were shown around Saturday and Sunday, allowing them to tour Sports Authority Field at Mile High, watch the Broncos as they had their walk-throughs and team photo shoot, and, of course, meet Manning.
“It was so sweet because he shakes my hand and says, ‘I’m Peyton Manning.’ It was cute. It was kind of like, ‘I know who you are Peyton,'” Bollig said.
From Benbow:
I didn’t love you before, Peyton. Even when you were in Indianapolis, even when you won a Super Bowl for the Colts during the 2006 season. I didn’t love you even when you made me cry with laughter in “Saturday Night Live” or those goofy ESPN commercials.
I never felt a particular genuineness about you. I felt more of a robotic aloofness. I’m not sure why. I know now that was my problem, not yours.
But I want to tell you something. I do love you now. I love you for what you did for my childhood friend from Greenfield, Ind., who is dying of breast cancer.
Read the full letter here.
