Jamie Nye
CFL.ca
CFLPink – the movement to help tackle women’s cancers – begins league-wide next week.
However, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are getting ahead of the game as they prepare to launch their Pink initiative this weekend.
The Roughriders have partnered up with the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency for a program titled “Touchdown for Dreams.”
The goal: To grant dreams for women with terminal cancer.
The program, unfortunately, was not around in 2001 when middle linebacker Barrin Simpson lost his mother to cervical cancer.
Simpson was full of emotion last week when the Roughriders announced the program and introduced the ambassador for the program, who is also the first recipient of a dream.
Megan Fonstad, a 28-year old mother of two, told the story of her fight with a rare form of lung cancer found only in young non-smoking women as well as a brain tumour doctors found later.
Simpson filled up with tears, saddened by the story but also inspired by Fonstad’s strength.
“It was so inspiring. You can fight. When women and others get diagnosed with cancer they can give up. I’m always one to site scripture, ‘the tongue has the power to speak life or death, choose life,’” said Simpson.
“(Megan) blessed my heart saying that ‘I’m going to be there for my kids.’ She knows and believes she can beat cancer and this disease will not be terminal for her. Hopefully that same attitude will catch on.”
Simpson has been in the deepest, darkest of places when it comes to dealing with a loved one fighting cancer.
When his mom was first diagnosed in his freshman year of college, he says the first thing that came across his mind was that his mom was dying. He was wrong.
Simpson’s mom won that first fight and was able to spend a few more years with her sons and daughter. However, the story turned in Simpson’s rookie year with the B.C. Lions.
He got a call around Labour Day that his mom was going through her second fight with cancer. This time, it was a fight she wasn’t going to win.
“The most harsh words she ever shared with me was, ‘this time I’m not going to make it.’ It broke my heart at that point. Immediately, I wanted to leave and come home. That was just after September 11th and she told me not to cross the border and come home when the season’s over.”
So Simpson played on with the Lions with his mind back home in Mississippi where his mom was dying.
“I played that season in honour of my mom. She told me, ‘you play hard and you finish strong,’ and I played as hard as I could.”
Simpson did his mom proud. He racked up a league-best 115 tackles, and was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie as well as a CFL All-Star.
He’d return home to be there with his mother on Jan. 29th, 2002, the day she passed away.
Simpson continues to play for his mother and carries her driver’s licence with him every day.
“It was heartbreaking for me because I wanted to do so much as a grown up with my mom and spend time with my mom. I didn’t get those years with her. I keep the memory of her with me at all times.”
Simpson told that story to Fonstad two weeks ago when they met for the first time, which left an impact on her.
“He’s an incredible guy. He’s overcome so much adversity dealing with his mom’s illness. He’s a fantastic player as well as a fantastic man.”
Fonstad will be off to Las Vegas on Oct. 22nd to watch Garth Brooks in concert as part of the “Touchdown for Dreams” program.
“It’s incredible to be part of this partnership and make women’s dreams with terminal cancer come true. We’re fighting every day to live. To have something to look forward to and have that dream fulfilled that’s just unbelievable. It gives us so much hope and so much joy.”
A day before Fonstad’s concert, the Roughriders will be in Calgary for the official ‘CFL Pink’ week. For the first time Simpson, his teammates and fellow players across the league will be able to wear pink to show support for women like his mom.
“I’m unbelievably grateful because I wanted like none other to show that support. To show support to women who face cancer, to be able to wear it out there because I lost my mom with that battle with cancer.”
Touchdown for Dreams
The Roughriders and Saskatchewan Cancer Agency have teamed up to sell pennants, bandanas and other pink paraphernalia ahead of their upcoming home game against the Lions. You can also make a cash donation at www.saskcancer.ca/donate
The proceeds will go to the program and make a handful of Saskatchewan women’s dreams come true.
Fans are asked to write a message on their pink bandanas to loved ones battling or who have battled cancer. After the game on Oct. 16, fans will get a chance to meet the Roughriders as they help add the bandanas to a wall of strength. The wall will be on display during the Roughriders final home game on Oct. 29 against Hamilton.
