Throughout the Broncos locker room, there are dozens of players that seem to participate in virtually every community event, constantly helping out the Denver area off the field.

In 2012, guard Zane Beadles stood out, and he has been recognized as the Broncos’ 2012 Walter Payton Man of the Year.

Beadles has been involved in a number of initiatives, most notably spearheading a program the offensive line has continued for multiple seasons — Cakes for Cancer — which donates $250 to Brent’s Place for every pancake block the line makes.

Beadles’ inspiration for the program came while playing at the University of Utah, when he met a 7-year-old boy named Ryker, who was stricken with Glioblastoma Multiforme cancer.

The Utes adopted Ryker as a member of the team, but about a year later, he lost his battle with cancer.

“I knew I wanted to do something with cancer and something with kids,” Beadles said. “I just looked around the area and found Brent’s Place. I learned about them and what they do and it seemed like a perfect fit. That’s how it kind of came about.”