John Challis Dies After Inspiring Others

18-Year-Old Traveled, Met Sports Heroes, Spread Positive Message

POSTED: 2:52 pm EDT August 19, 2008

UPDATED: 8:33 am EDT August 20, 2008

FREEDOM, Pa. -- John Challis, the inspirational Beaver County teenager who spread a positive message in his final months with a terminal disease, died at home in his sleep Tuesday afternoon. He was 18.

Message Board: Share Your Condolences And Thoughts About John Challis

Challis, of Freedom, suffered from cancer that eventually spread from the liver and lungs to other parts of his body. He had taken to napping for several hours daily in the past few weeks.

"He was the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet, always had a smile on his face, always wanted you to do your best, play hard," friend Cole Lentz said.

While growing up, Challis hoped to play sports. And despite his illness, which was diagnosed at 16, he kept trying to make those dreams come true. Along the way, he reminded people to live for today because tomorrow is not promised.

Last fall, Challis spent a few plays with the Freedom Area High School football team. In the spring, when his body allowed, he participated in baseball.

"Part of me went with him. It's like I lost my best friend, my little brother," Freedom Area baseball coach Steve Wetzel said.

Wetzel saw Challis Tuesday shortly before he died. Challis was too weak to talk, but Wetzel said he'll always remember the last time they spoke, a couple of weeks ago.

"He told me that whenever I get to heaven, he's going to be pushing family members out of the way to greet me, and he just told me that he loved me and that's the last thing he said to me," Wetzel said.

Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux had Challis as a guest in his private box at Mellon Arena during a Stanley Cup playoff game against the Philadelphia Flyers on May 11.

Challis also met Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz in Lemieux's suite that night, and he was interviewed on television during the Versus network's live broadcast of the game.

On June 25, Challis was the Pittsburgh Pirates' honorary manager against the New York Yankees at PNC Park. He gave a pregame speech in the locker room and wrote a simple message for the players on a dry erase board: "Have fun - the reason why we play ball."

"I guess I'm just a little surprised that people don't understand how easy I think it is for a young person such as myself to see a negative situation as positive," Challis said at the time. "I mean, I don't know if I see it as positive, but I'm not complaining about it."

He also met one of his baseball heroes, New York shortstop Derek Jeter, and got a personal tour of Yankee Stadium with Alex Rodriguez a few weeks later.

While at Rodriguez's side in New York, Challis even got caught up in a crush of paparazzi who wanted to know about rumors of an A-Rod affair with singer Madonna.

Challis' last high-profile appearance was Aug. 2, when he got a ceremonial key to the Beaver County city of Conway during a Community Day celebration at the local fire station.

Though he looked very thin, Challis was in good spirits, saying, "I am technically mayor right now, so I figure, just have a good time, don't break (anything) and just have fun, don't cause trouble and just have a good day."

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.

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

Services for Challis will be held at Noll Funeral Home on Third Street in Beaver. Visitation will be Thursday and Friday from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Beaver.

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

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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