John Challis Remembered By Friends, Family, Sports HeroesPOSTED: 4:10 pm EDT August 20,
2008 FREEDOM, Pa. -- One day after John Challis' death, the inspirational 18-year-old who spread a positive message in his final months with cancer is being remembered throughout the Pittsburgh area -- and beyond.
Challis, of Freedom, Beaver County, died at home in his sleep Tuesday. (Read The Story) The funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Beaver. "I whispered to him, 'I love you,' and he grunted the words, 'I love you.' It was important that he knew who I was," said Challis' father, Scott. "He had his eyes open, and after that, I knew something was going to go down. It was sad, but it was almost a relief that he was done and the struggle was over."A statement from the Pittsburgh Penguins called Challis "an extraordinarily courageous young man who touched all of our lives with his strength, passion, dignity and caring for others." (Read The Entire Statement) The Penguins knew Challis from a Stanley Cup playoff game in May, when he was invited to watch the Penguins vs. the Flyers in Mario Lemieux's private box at Mellon Arena."The one thing about John is he never lost focus on what his point was and his mission was," said Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was also in Lemieux's suite that night. "He stayed upbeat, no matter what, and made a lot of people appreciate what they have and be thankful for every day, because it takes a strong kid and a strong person to be able to do the things that he did."In June, Challis met many of the Pittsburgh Pirates when he served as the team's honorary manager for a game against the New York Yankees."He was -- and will continue to be -- an inspiration to each of us," Pirates president Frank Coonelly said in a statement. (Read The Entire Statement) New York third baseman Alex Rodriguez also met Challis when the Yanks played at PNC Park. Later, Rodriguez took him on a tour of Yankee Stadium, and they kept in touch after that."He was a very brave boy, very smart," Rodriguez told reporters after learning of Challis' death. "He had a huge heart. I was just proud that I got to spend a whole day with him and I'm touched by the fact that he came to my apartment and spent quality time. It's something that I'll be inspired by for the rest of my life."Challis loved sports, but his favorite was football -- and despite his illness, he spent a few plays with the Freedom Area High School team last fall."I think the impact he's made will never die," Freedom Area football coach J.C. Summers said. "Any time we step on the baseball field around here, football field, basketball court -- that's how we're going to remember him. Classroom. He's the definition of courage."Freedom Area's football players plan to wear 11 -- Challis' jersey number -- on their helmets as a tribute this season."We all knew this day would come, but the way he fought, we started to think maybe he's going to win. And in my mind, he did," Summers said. "He did win."Services will be held at Noll Funeral Home in Beaver on Thursday and Friday from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Courage for Life Foundation, which Challis started before he died."He brought out the true good of people," Scott Challis said. "I never realized how good the people are out there, and how he brought Beaver County together as one community." Earlier this year, Challis was named HighSchoolPlaybook.com's Student-Athlete of the Week. You can watch the video of his award presentation below. Previous Stories:
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Golf Outing, Auction Remember John Challis
