Dare to Play
The Global Down Syndrome Foundation hosted Ed McCaffrey's Dare to Play Football Camp and Denver Broncos Cheerleaders Dare to Cheer Camp on Saturday.
A tumbler leaps high over Miles the mascot, among others, as the Dare to Play and Dare to Cheer camps kicked off.
Former Bronco Ed McCaffrey helps run the camp along with the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.
Campers pose with the Mile High Skydivers after their grand entrance at Valor Christian High School.
This marked the third year of McCaffrey's annual camp.
Former Bronco Brian Dawkins served as a coach for one of the teams.
Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio happily served as the other coach during the game.
The teams prepare to run through a Dare to Play banner.
The campers -- all children with Down syndrome -- were ready to start playing!
Dawkins' team listens as he gives the campers a pregame pep talk.
Miles helps a camper fire up the crowd.
The white team kicked off the scoring with a long touchdown run.
The blue team answered with a touchdown, and Del Rio was there with congratulations.
Valor Christian High School students also served as assistant coaches for the game. Here, a camper gives one of the students a thumbs up.
It was a back-and-forth game, with both teams enjoying some fun touchdown runs and passes.
A camper on the blue team was fired up!
Dawkins gives his team some up-close instruction.
A camper takes a break in between plays.
The crowd of more than 600 people went crazy every time the campers sprinted into the end zone.
At halftime, it was the cheerleaders' turn. The Denver Broncos Cheerleaders hosted Dare to Cheer Camp, as well.
Valor Christian cheerleaders helped with the choreographed halftime show, as well.
A Dare to Cheer camper hugs one of her coaches from the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders after the halftime show.
After the halftime show, the campers got to show off their dance moves before the second half began.
One thing was obvious -- everyone on the field was having a ton of fun.
Dawkins helps get the white team's defense set.
A camper on the blue team drops back to throw a pass.
A camper looks to pump up the crowd.
There were lots of smiles and laughs to go around all morning.
Del Rio likes what he sees from his squad.
The blue team huddles up, looking for one last defensive stop at the end of the game.
But the white team wouldn't be denied, finding the end zone.
Campers on the white team and their assistant coaches from Valor Christian High School celebrate the touchdown in the end zone.
The final touchdown meant the game ended in a tie. Everyone was a winner.
Dawkins carries a camper to midfield for a group photo.
The Dare to Play and Dare to Cheer Camps were a great success again in 2012.
Dawkins made sure the Dare to Play Camp organizer, McCaffrey, got a victory bath of cold water.
McCaffrey, Dawkins and Del Rio were happy to have been a part of an event for such a great cause.
