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Denver Native (Carol)
06-08-2010, 04:40 PM
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=10163

DENVER -- A staple of Broncos football has always been fan support. After all, the organization has had a string of home sellouts for 40 consecutive years -- the longest streak in the AFC and second only to Washington in the NFL.

That's why the Broncos have always considered giving back to the community one of their top priorities. On Saturday, June 5, the organization took it to another level.

June 5 marked the first inaugural Day of Champions. In what will become an annual event, Broncos players, cheerleaders and Miles the mascot appeared at more than 15 locations throughout the Denver metro area to support community efforts and thank Broncos fans that support the team.

"It's a great day -- you can't ask for anything else," Korey Bosworth said. "It means a lot that we're coming out here. Everybody's really appreciative and it's great to finally meet the community. This is my first time. We're liking it and having a good time."

Bosworth was one of dozens of Broncos that headed to locations ranging from the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver to The Crossing at the Denver Rescue Mission, HealthONE's Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, the Denver Performing Arts Complex for the American Heart Association Heart Walk and various other corporate partner retail locations for meet and greets throughout the day.

It all started with the Heart Walk, which kicked off a little after 7:30 a.m.

More than 20 Broncos participated on the Denver Broncos team during the walk, chatting and signing autographs for fans along the way.

The walk had an even bigger meaning for Lance Ball, as his mother had triple bypass surgery in May.

"It's always good to give back and work for a cause," Ball said.

Most of the team was out in the community Saturday, including Knowshon Moreno and Bruce Hall, who headed to Lakewood, Colo. to help celebrate National Trails Day. Approximately 100 volunteers built new sections of trail and will maintain current trails at William Fredrick Hayden Park on Green Mountain. With more than 2,400 acres of open space, the park -- which is lottery funded -- is the second largest park in Lakewood.

Moreno and Hall were there to thank the volunteers.

Justin Bannan, Zane Beadles, David Bruton, Correll Buckhalter, Ryan Clady, Bruce Davis, Brian Dawkins, Elvis Dumervil, Renaldo Hill, Tyler Polumbus and Demaryius Thomas were just a few of the players who headed out to locations like Lowe's, Sports Authority, Kind Soopers, Red Robin, Go Chevrolet, Verizon Wireless, Discount Tire and Comcast to interact with fans and sign autographs.

"You can just see the smiles that people get and just how excited they are that you're a Bronco and you're taking the time to come out here and really show your support and help out in the community," Jammie Kirlew said.

There were several events at INVESCO Field at Mile High, as well, including the Broncos Bunch Summer Kickoff, a Family Field Day BBQ and a contest to find a national anthem singer for a Broncos game this season.

Players the likes of Spencer Larsen, Eric Olsen, Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow helped with the events, and at the end of the day, every player who got involved was happy to have done so.

"The fans come out and give great support, so we're just giving back to the fans, really," Landis Williams said. "We're trying to do something for them, to show them that we love them as much as they love us.

"It's a great feeling."

For a photo gallery from the many appearances throughout the Day of Champions, click here. (on link)