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Inspirational Teen Fighting Cancer Passes Away

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Aug 19, 2008 7:56 pm US/Eastern

Inspirational Teen Fighting Cancer Passes Away

WEB EXTRA: Remembering John Challis | Slideshow

FREEDOM (KDKA) ― A former Beaver County High School athlete whose battle with terminal cancer garnered national attention has died.

John Challis, 18, passed away this afternoon at his family's home in Freedom.

Challis played high school baseball at Freedom Area High School before developing cancer. He remained in school after becoming sick and played in one more game last season.

One of his goals was to graduate from high school and he accomplished that in June, still confronting his two-year battle with liver and lung cancer.

He knew what he faced.

"They say it could be a couple of months, could be a couple of years who knows. It's all in God's hands," Challis told KDKA in June.

It turned out to be just a couple months. In a way, he preached his own eulogy daily.

"Don't look at dying as a bad thing. Look at it as a chance to meet God and make the best of the time that you do have," he said.

And that he did - meeting Mario Lemieux, Dan Rooney and Ben Roethlisberger. He also spent time hanging out in the Pirate locker room. Baseball was one of his passions.

He also had a sense of humor.

The Courage For Life Foundation has been established in his honor. It's mission is to provide life encouraging experiences for high school athletes with life-threatening illnesses.

But of all the people he met in the last few months, he said he was prepared for another meeting.

"Meeting God - that would be pretty cool," he said. "We'll it's gonna be pretty cool."

Read More:

 Remembering John Challis |  Courage For Life Foundation

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