Grapevine football players learn from cancer survivor
Each October, thousands of pro, college and high school football players add pink to their uniforms in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The members of the Grapevine Mustangs squad got a firsthand account of the struggles of those with cancer from former WFAA-TV anchor/reporter Janet St. James.
The Grapevine football team has a team motto of TPW, which stands for Tough People Win.
To tell us what she went through was inspiring. She is a tough woman.
Grapevine football player Brandon Coffin on cancer survivor Janet St. James
St. James was brought in to speak to them about how that motto exemplifies that attitude.“It has taken a lot of mental toughness, just like your coaches tell you,” St. James told them. “I am strong and I am fierce. Those are the words I live by.”
St. James was diagnosed with breast cancer on April 1, shortly after leaving the TV news business to go to work for HCA North Texas as vice president of strategic communication.
Mustangs head coach Randy Jackson invited St. James to speak to his team so they would know that there are real cancer victims behind the pink mouth guards, shoelaces and towels the team adds to its uniform during October.
“When you wear pink, think of the women and men like me and their families who are going through this,” St. James told the players.
St. James talked about her bilateral mastectomy and months of chemo and radiation therapy. She still faces several surgeries. She said cancer is hard on families.
“Cancer is tough for parents to talk about with kids, but it has to be done,” she said.
She was overwhelmed by how the approximately 100 high school boys gave her their “undivided attention.”
“It made me feel really good,” the Grapevine resident said.
St. James enjoyed visiting the school, especially because two of her children are students there. Her third child attends Colleyville Middle School.
The visit made an impact on the players.
Senior wide receiver Brandon Coffin appreciated the message from St. James, saying, “To tell us what she went through was inspiring. She is a tough woman. It was great.”
Junior offensive lineman Robert Ryan added, “It was inspiring how she stayed positive during her fight. My mom had breast cancer, so this is very real. She’s been cancer-free for four years. It reminded me what this is all about.”
Marty Sabota, 817-390-7367
This story was originally published October 13, 2015 at 11:50 AM with the headline "Grapevine football players learn from cancer survivor."