Steelers Making Good with the Community

(Photo by Getty Images)

This is officially the worst time of the year for NFL fans.

OTA's are over and training camp has yet to start. It's during this down time in the calender, when most trouble players get into trouble.

Some members of the Pittsburgh Steelers' organization that are doing the exact opposite.

Limas Sweed spent one day last week with the kids at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.  Sweed was visiting children that were suffering from Sickle Cell Anemia.

Sickle Cell Anemia is a disease of the blood, where the red blood cells are not shaped the way they are supposed to be, not allowing them to flow properly to the body's organs.

Because of this, there can be a blockage of blood vessels, which does not only cause pain, but also can result in serious infection and organ damage.

Sickle Cell Anemia is an inherited disease, and there is no cure for it.

"I know it affects kids and a lot of people," said Sweed. "Some of those kids are young and they might not have a long life. They know that. I just wanted to brighten up their day up a little bit."

"Any time you can come from something with a positive experience, it makes you appreciate life,” said Sweed. "We are out here running, lifting weights, and getting stronger. That could have been me. I could have had sickle cell not being able to be out here running around doing what I love to do. It made me more thankful and appreciative of life, being healthy and being in the position I am in."

Race for a Cure

Once again this year, the Pittsburgh Steelers participated in the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation Pittsburgh Race for a Cure.

Members of the Steelers' family participated in the run, and encourage Steeler Nation across the country to participate in the race to fight breast cancer in their home town.

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