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Roger Mooney
Roger Mooney covers the Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.
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Pittsburgh teen who inspired Rays dies
Posted Aug 19, 2008 by Marc Lancaster
Updated Aug 19, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Sad news today from Pittsburgh. John Challis, the 18-year-old from suburban Pittsburgh who wowed the Rays (and Pirates, and Yankees) with his personality and courage during visits to PNC Park earlier this season, succumbed to liver and lung cancer this afternoon.
The Rays presented Challis with an autographed banner featuring the slogan for the teen’s foundation, “Courage + Believe = Life”, that Joe Maddon had made up after seeing a story about Challis on ESPN.
Having spent only a few minutes in his presence, he was an impressive young man. And in talking a bit to the baseball coach at his high school, Challis obviously had a huge impact on those who were around him regularly.
He did more for others in his short life than most of us who have been given a lot more time. He certainly will be missed.
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Reader Comments
Por (Pete Wilton) on August 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
After reading the articles about John Challis’ passing in our local papers, I wanted to see what the Tampa news had to say.
The local article quoted someone that followed the story with the comment that it was a “horrible ending” to the story. I don’t believe young Mr Challis would have agreed with that sentiment.
His life was defined by his LIFE and COURAGE. His death was a sad part of his story, but it doesn’t even rate a chapter, maybe an epilogue.
Mr Challis showed us that anyone can make a difference at any time.
I am now a Mr Maddon fan. Mr Challis’ story was about being courageous in the face of adversity.
He didn’t waste a moment of the short time he was given. A lesson for us all.
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