Please print this letter to the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was born in Allegheny General Hospital in 1972 and have been a Steelers fan ever since.

My problem: I live in Alamosa, Colo., and am surrounded by Broncos fans constantly. I am writing this letter to ask you to PLEASE beat the Broncos when you come to Denver. It's not easy to be continually tormented by Broncos fans, especially now that they are doing well.

Most people I know are still harassing me about the last time you came to the Mile High City (a Broncos win, 31-28, on Oct. 21, 2007). I attended that game with my favorite son Zachary (the one I happened to, against all odds, turn into a Steelers fan) and his dad, with whom we didn't sit because he likes the Broncos.

We left saddened by the loss and a little frightened. Evidently some Broncos fans didn't find our sign ("What's higher, Mile High or Travis Henry?") as funny as we did.

Although we don't have tickets to this season's game, we will be with you in spirit. We love all things Pittsburgh: pierogies, the Point, Kennywood, etc.

Finally, the biggest reason I need you to win: My middle school students will be unbearable if you lose. They laugh when I wear my Steelers jersey every Monday. They try to touch the Terrible Towel. They call Big Ben Worthlessberger. It's blasphemous!

I was teased for days after your loss to the Bears. If you don't beat the Broncos they will be merciless. Even my offers of candy and gum in exchange for an end to the harassment fall on deaf ears. I won't survive a loss. Teenagers are pretty harsh.

It's not easy for Zach and I being Steelers fans in Colorado, but even though we live in Broncoland, we always remember it is just a very tiny part of the Steeler Nation!

DELHIA MAHANEY

Alamosa, Colo.

My wife and I were in Pittsburgh last month while our daughter had two heart surgeries (one scheduled, and the other one ... well, not so much) at Children's Hospital. Neither of us had ever been to Pittsburgh before, and we didn't really know what to expect. We now have a new appreciation for GPS navigation, and for several places and people in your city.

The staff at Children's was amazing. We spent all week in the intensive care unit surrounded by kids who were really desperately sick, and the whole time the staff was warm and composed and attentive. Perhaps you get tired of hearing it, and I'm sure you must hear it often, but they were so helpful, professional and inspired great confidence at a time when we were very worried about the health of our child.

Thanks to the amazing Dr. Victor Morell, who caressed the heart of our child with his hands, and Ann's nurses Kyra, April, Sarah, Christina, and certainly the rest, whose names escape us.

Additional thanks to those contributors in your city who made the Family House concept a reality. We stayed there and were inspired by the teamwork it took, and takes, to make the houses what they are. We are the beneficiaries of the vision launched many years ago.

Another bright spot is our new friends at Cafe Sam on Baum near Liberty -- Dan, Mary, Carissa, Angel, Michelle, Carly. We ate some of the finest meals we have eaten anywhere there. We talked hockey, football, school, and they helped us vent and process the anxiety we were going through. We're looking forward to the quarterly recipe newsletter!

The "Steel town" has a heart of gold, and your people aren't afraid to let it show. Thank you all so much for softening the edges on what could have been a very different week for a couple of lost and worried out-of-towners.

Our daughter's treatment went well, and she is expected to make a full recovery. I hope one day we can visit Pittsburgh for fun instead of necessity.

DAVID and COLLEEN VANGELDER

Tucson, Ariz.

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