John Challis Laid To Rest

Funeral Held For Inspirational Beaver Teen

POSTED: 3:02 pm EDT August 23, 2008
UPDATED: 7:44 pm EDT August 23, 2008

BEAVER, Pa. -- A funeral was held Saturday for John Challis, the Beaver County teen whose message of hope in the face of terminal illness spread through the Pittsburgh area and across the country.

Services for Challis, of Freedom, took place Saturday morning at Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church on Third Street in Beaver.

Over the past two days, friends and family paid their respects during the visitation at nearby Noll Funeral Home.

“John obviously makes you smile. That little, simple kid has done it and he has defeated cancer because he did not let it get in the way,” Challis’ friend, Joe Signore, said. “John wanted nothing out of A-Rod, A-Rod wanted something out of John -- just to talk to a real person."

Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux sent flowers that were displayed behind Challis' casket, and New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez sent a plant with a card. They met Challis during a Penguins playoff game and a Pirates-Yankees game at PNC Park respectively.

Challis said his goal growing up was to play sports. Despite his illness, which was diagnosed at age 16, he kept trying to make that dream come true and reminded people to live for today because tomorrow is not promised.

"[John said], 'Wake up each day, to take every breath you have, live life to the fullest,'” Signore said.

He spent some time with the Freedom Area High School football and baseball teams last season, and he had a pinch-hit line-drive that gained national attention on ESPN.

Challis was also able to start the John Challis Courage for Life Foundation, which operates under his now-famous motto, "Courage + Believe = Life."

The foundation seeks to provide other high-school-aged athletes who are fighting terminal illnesses with an opportunity to take their minds off what they are going through -- "whatever the kid wants or needs," Challis once said.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Challis' name to his foundation.

A golf benefit is scheduled for Aug. 25 at Chartiers Country Club in Robinson Township. Call 412-921-5360 for more information.

Earlier this year, Challis was named HighSchoolPlaybook.com's Student-Athlete of the Week. You can watch the video of his award presentation below.

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