Peyton Manning Is The MVP Of Our Hearts This Summer
Even though the NFL is currently off season, Denver Broncos’ quarterback Peyton Manning is still making fans cheer. On Tuesday, June 23, Manning sent a memorial birthday gift to the family of a teenage fan killed by a drunk driver. Logan Brown, 15, was killed this March in Indiana after a car accident involving a drunk driver who tested four times the legal limit.
According to Colorado DUI lawyers, most fatal drunk driving accidents involve drivers whose blood alcohol content tests far above the legal limit of 0.08%. And although fatal drunk driving crashes have been declining sharply for decades, there were still 161 fatal drunk driving crashes in Colorado in 2011.
Last Tuesday would have been Logan’s 16th birthday. To help the grieving family celebrate their son’s life, Manning sent a handwritten letter and an autographed photo, signed with the message, “In memory of Logan Allen Brown.”
Gayle Ricketts, the grandmother of the Indiana teen, sent a letter to Manning about her grandson’s tragic death, writing about how inspired Logan felt by Manning’s life and career.
“As a grandmother I felt like I should let Peyton know this young man idolized him and what he meant in his life,” said Ricketts. “It blew me away…I called [Logan’s dad] Charles when the letter came. I didn’t even open it. I called Charles to come over.”
Now, Logan’s father says the family feels truly blessed by the sports star’s big-hearted response.
“To take the time to send something back to a situation in Evansville, Indiana, that he probably doesn’t know anything about,” said Logan’s father, Charles Brown. “It’s important to see that they’re humans and for these other kids to see you never forget where you come from.”
Although Peyton Manning currently plays for the Denver Broncos, he began his career as the first overall draft pick for Indianapolis, where he led the Colts to victory as the Super Bowl XLI Most Valuable Player in 2007. It’s easy to see why so many fans of all ages idolize the football star. In addition to his victories on the field, he’s become known for sending personal responses to fans suffering from personal tragedies, like the Browns.
