Peyton Manning flew out longtime fan Kari Barnett Bollig, who is dying from breast cancer, to the Denver Broncos opener after receiving a letter from her, according to Dana Hunsinger Benbow of the Indianapolis Star.
Bollig's cancer is stage four, which is the worst stage breast cancer can be. The cancer has spread throughout her bones and her lungs. "There's not a whole lot, they can slow it down, but there's not a whole lot they can do," said Bollig, via the Star.
Bollig is a former Indiana girl living in Rock Springs, Wyo., and she is an avid Manning fan. She decided to write letters to people who had made a difference in her life, and one of those people was Manning.
"I just thought, well, shoot, I'm going to write him a letter and tell him how much he inspires me, not just because he's a football player, but for what he does off the field," said Bollig. "It was very personal. It was very heartfelt and I never thought anything of it other than I wrote it and sent it."
Bollig never even thought Manning would get the letter, but he called her with some news. Manning planned to have Bollig out for two days at Mile High Stadium in Denver. She was able to watch the Saturday walk-through practice, team photos and was given tickets as well as sideline passes to the Broncos-Ravens game on Sunday.
"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.
Manning's letter was the only one she has sent. She says she is not mailing them yet and that she doesn't know if she'll live 10 years or be gone next week. "Keep fighting, Kari. I'll be praying for you," said Manning before leaving the Stadium Saturday, according to the Star.
Whatever happens on Sundays won't be as important as that moment between Manning and Bollig, as an NFL star quarterback took time for a strong resilient fan.
