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Coach Remembers Teen's Inspirational Message

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Aug 20, 2008 12:51 pm US/Eastern

Coach Remembers Teen's Inspirational Message

More: Slideshow of Challis' Life | Mary Robb Jackson's Blog | Coach Remembers Challis

Link: Courage For Life Foundation
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― His battle with cancer and inspirational message touched so many and on the day after his death, John Challis' friends are remembering the Beaver County teen.

After a two-year battle with lung and liver cancer, Challis passed away on Tuesday at his home in Freedom surrounded by his family and friends.

Steve Wetzel, Challis' coach and friend, was just one of the people the teen touched with his positive outlook.

"I can honestly say that he's my little brother/best friend," Wetzel told KDKA.

He says he and Challis spent a lot of time together, but in that time his battle with cancer rarely came up.

"We never talked about the cancer, very seldom, it was mostly just about what friends talk about sports, girls, food."

Challis, who was a baseball player for Freedom Area High School, and Wetzel set up the Courage for Life Foundation in hopes of helping other high school athletes battling illness.

"He inspired a lot of people. It seems like when he got his base hit, the game that we got him in there and he got his base hit, the world just fell in love with him," said Wetzel, of the game Challis played in after his diagnosis. "He's so positive, and I can honestly say not one complaint, never questioned anything, never cried. His biggest concern was for his family."

"We want to help other people that are going through this," added Wetzel. "When you get the awful news, how John coped with it because it was a very unique way, a very powerful way. So we started the foundation, we wanted to give student athletes, the opportunity to give them a sports experience and give them a little support."

In September, Wetzel said he is getting married, and before his death, Challis agreed to be a part of the ceremony.

"John has told me numerous times, he said, 'Coach, I don't think I'm going to make it to your wedding,' but he asked me if I believe in angels and he said he'll be the angel standing there on my right side."

Wetzel also says he was inspired by Challis in so many ways.

"To be a better person, to slow down a little bit, take one day at a time," he said. "So many times I would make plans for two, three weeks out, now I'm just living for today. I just worried about what's going to happen today, live life to the fullest. He's also taught me don't take things for granted, and when I don't want to get up or I don't want to work or I have a headache, who cares, there is so many other things to worry about and there's only certain things you can control."

The viewing for Challis will be held at Noll Funeral Home in Beaver from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. His funeral is will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Beaver.

On Monday, August 25th, the Courage for Life Foundation is planning a Golf Outing at the Chartiers Country Club. To register, call 412-921-5360. 




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