Eli Manning's Work With Pediatric Bergen Cancer Patients Gets Him NFL Man Of The Year Award

WYCKOFF, N.J. — Eli Manning was honored for his work helping Bergen County pediatric cancer patients Saturday. He was named one of two NFL players to receive the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

The award is given to an inspiring player, or players, who perform charitable work on and off the playing field. Manning created Eli’s Challenge with Hackensack University Medical Center, a community fundraising initiative that has helped raise more than $4 million.

"You put yourself in the shoes of the parents and what you'd be doing and what you'd be feeling," Manning said in the video. "It's the right thing to be helping other people, the right thing to do to help families who are going through a tough time. If you're going to be a leader on the field, you need to be a leader off the field."

Manning spends a lot of time with cancer patients while they are at HUMC, including a 9-year-old girl from Wyckoff named Rebecca Salmins.

Salmins and her mother Sherry were featured in a video about Manning and his work at the NFL's Honors awards Saturday night.

"Hearing your child has cancer, as a parent, there's almost no word to describe it," Sherry Salmins said.

Rebecca Salmins — YouTube screenshot

Manning said he has tried to sympathize with the parents of the children.

"You put yourself in the shoes of the parents and what you'd be doing and how you'd be feeling," Manning said.

Arizona Cardinals' wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was named the other Man of the Year.

Wayne's Greg Olsen, a tight end with the Carolina Panthers, was the other nominee.

Send local news tips, photos, and press releases to daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.

Eli Manning — YouTube screenshot