Why We Love John Challis
By Gary Lloyd
Love of Sports Correspondent
(Photo courtesy of Matt Freed of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
In today’s sporting world, inspirational stories are minimal considering the steroid accusations, insane contracts and other off-the-field issues.
However, John Challis represents everything that is right, not only in the sporting world, but the world itself.
The 18-year-old Pennsylvania high school senior, standing just 5-foot-5 and weighing less than 100 pounds, has cancer that started in his liver and has now spread to his lungs. His cancer was discovered June 23, 2006. Challis’ doctors didn’t expect him to live through that summer.
Each day since then, Challis continues to beat the odds. Through the sport of baseball, that was never more apparent than last month.
Challis’ high school baseball coach, Steve Wetzel, called on him to pinch-hit. He swung at the first pitch he saw, made contact and sent the ball into right field for an RBI single. The opposing team, rightfully making baseball a secondary thought, removed their gloves and clapped. At the same time, his teammates were running onto the field to congratulate him.
He had beat the odds again.
Challis now says the doctors think it could only be two more months, but he remains strong.
“I told my mom I still think I can get two more years,” said a teary-eyed Challis after that amazing pinch-hit performance.
He continues to defy any odds set before him.
He’s a very self-aware kid, and he knows this cancer will win the battle against his body eventually. It’ll take away his physical abilities, but as Jim Valvano said at his 1993 ESPY speech, it cannot touch his mind, it cannot touch his heart and it cannot touch his soul. And those three things will carry on forever.
Challis said he used to be afraid of death, but he’s not anymore. You may ask how that’s possible?
“Because life ain’t about how many breaths you take. It’s what you do with those breaths,” said Challis.
How humble is this kid? He may only be 5-foot-5 in stature, but he’s now a person you should look up to.
“Why can’t people just see the best in things? It gets you so much further in life,” Challis said in a recent interview. “It’s always negative this and negative that. That’s all you see and hear.”
Amen, John.
I personally heard about this story while listening to a local sports talk show in the car. Ian Fitzsimmons and Lance Taylor, hosts of The Roundtable in Birmingham, Alabama, actually had John on the show for a 15-minute interview, which you can find at http://www.roundtableradio.com in the Splash Cast section.
Just listening to his voice and his views, I could tell how positive this kid’s attitude was. I urge you to go listen to that interview if you have the time.
There is much, much more to this amazing 18-year-old’s story, but I tried to keep this story simple, like John. He’s a simple kid with a complex problem.
That problem will inevitably end his life at some point. Whether it’s in two months, like the doctors think, or in two more years like Challis believes, his impact on the sports world and others alike will last a lifetime.
Wetzel recalls something John told him a few days prior to the baseball game. “I’m 32 and I’m getting married in September. You know what he told me the other day? He told me to save him a seat in the front row of the church, because even if he’s not there, he’ll be there in spirit,” said Wetzel.
This column migrated away from sports a bit, but I think that’s OK. There are more important things in this world than hitting a home run or dunking a basketball, and John Challis should make us all realize that.
And that’s Why We Love John Challis.
The original article on John Challis, from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, can be found here: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/08125/878966-85.stm
Comments
Tom Challis on 05/11 at 07:19 PM
John is my nephew.His strength and his courage are a testament to his father Scott,his loving mother Gina,and his beautiful little sister Lexie.
In addition to bringing a community together,John Boy has exhibited a tenacity for life that has inspired a nation.I can tell you that John never looked for this attention.Never cared about seeing his name printed in a newspaper.He just wants to be a normal teenager that plays football,plays basketball,plays baseball and hunts. Cancer is trying to halt his life, but take it from me,this kid is as fearless now as he was when he climbed his first tree at the age of 4.I’ve always been proud of John but never have I been more proud of a fellow human being.The people of Western Pennsylvania have been wonderful to my nephew and I greatly appreciate it.But to one and all,do NOT count John Challis out yet.His message is strong and true and God willing he’ll be able to spread it further.
Gary Lloyd on 05/12 at 01:38 AM
Thanks for the comment, Tom. I loved listening to John on the radio and had to write something about him. Let me ask you, how did you come across this article?
JohnG on 05/12 at 05:17 AM
Superb article and a great story.
Dave Monroe on 05/12 at 01:11 PM
John reminds me of Ryan White, who also was an incredibly courageous young man. I hold you in the highest esteem young John.You give me reason to have faith in my fellow man. Thank You, and God bless you and your family.
John Collins on 05/13 at 12:08 PM
We live in a country full of starving unsatisfied souls; a poverty of the human spirit and of meaning. Its so ironic that so many writers/media/news shows focus on whats wrong with the world or garbage they think will boost ratings.
I think this story clearly demonstrates that whats good in the world is far more popular than whats not but we have so few people in the media who have the courage to focus on that. John Challis is a hero and an inspiration for any human being and there are more heroes everywhere around us if we would take the time to look.
Gary Lloyd on 05/13 at 12:26 PM
For Mr. Collins:
Like I said in the column…
Amen, John.
shaquille vaughn on 05/16 at 03:05 PM
i believe u are the strongest person i know. I personally would not have the courage and the strength you have to overcome cancer. You are a major role model to me.
Daniel Keith on 06/08 at 10:29 AM
John is truly a inspiration to everyone facing adversity. He is extremely intelligent for his age and has a true understanding on life. To me is a remarkable human being. I hope to have a sprinkle of his courage if I were to ever be in his situation. I watched the ESPN telecast today and I would be proud and honored to donate anything I can to his foundation. John is a fine example of a person and will be remembered forever. John I want to thankyou for having such a positive outlook on life and never giving up on the activities that make you feel alive. I too love sports and the living in the moments that stay with you for eternity. You are guiding the way to a better world. I want to thank your parents for their strength and sharing you with society in this time which they most charish. Thank you
Carolina Xplosion 13U Major USSSA Baseball Team on 06/17 at 07:31 AM
John, you are an inspiration to many people. We saw your story on ESPN on the morning of June 15th. My son, a 13 year old, plays USSSA Baseball for the Carolina Xplosion out of North Carolina. We played baseball that Sunday morning. Before the boys hit the field for the warmups, we played this video for them. When the story was over, we had 11 boys that had tears in their eyes. My son has watched the video over and over. You are an inspiration to the whole entire team. The enitire team played that Sunday for you John Challis. Your story inspired them to have a positive outlook, no matter what the situation may be. I wanted to let you know that my son, takes the field everytime with a piece of you in his heart. He has your name, number and courage + believe = Life written in all his baseball hats so that your inspiration, drive, courage and strength is with him at all times on the field. We also, carry with us on a huge posterboard, a picture of you and your encouraging words in our dugout during every game we play. John, thank you for touching our hearts and reminding us, parents and players, of what LIFE really stands for.
THANK YOU!!!
Tom on 06/23 at 06:00 PM
I wish I possesed 1/2 half the courage of John. My father died at the age of 54 from liver cancer in 1990. I decided then and there I was ready to accept my fate. I realized that my family has a long history of early death due to cancer. I made myself accept my fate. This January my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 44. My world was thoroughly rocked, and I was close to falling apart. She has an excellant prognosis, but I am more worried about her present situation than my probable inevitable cancer. Seeing John’s story on ESPN has given boost I needed for me to be strong for my wife. John, your story has brought me out of the paralyzing funk I sunk into. If you do not survive your bout with cancer, you most certainly will dance with angels when you reach heaven. I can never repay you for your inspiration. Go with God John, you have earned it. God bless you, your family and your friends.
Paul Clarke on 06/24 at 06:07 AM
When I saw the story on ESPN I cried and I was at the gym work out please can I send something this to this young man about his story. I need address or e-mail address. Thank You for your time. God bless
alexandra brooks on 07/04 at 05:14 PM
i know john personally, not as friends, but as classmates. i graduated a year ahead of him but when he played basketball his sophmore year, i was a cheerleader for the team, and let me tell you, there were some funny stories. even before the cancer, john was fairly small and i will never forget the time that he fell on the basketball court. he was laying on his back, ball still in hand, and a player from the opposite team tried to get the ball from johns hands. this guy must have been at least twice johns size, if not more. john wasnt letting go of that ball and neither was the other player. when the other player tried to pull the ball from johns hands he lifted john up off the floor by at least a few inches. i still laugh thinking about it. i just wanted to share this with everybody because i think sometimes people forget that there was a point in time when john wasnt constantly in pain. its like john said, its not about how many breathes you take, it about how what you do with those breathes. i dont know him well, but i know him well enough to tell you that he spent and is still spending those breathes well
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