PROUDFOOT'S A REAL HERO "Hecreated ajimd to mise moneyjbrALS wlzilejighting deadly diseasefbr 17DO yew:'). " tie with ALS. "The medical community has no real tt-eatment or answers for the patients affect- ed by tlJis mons tel; nor the toll It takes on family," wrote Proudfoot, who WitlllJJswife, Vicki. has three children: son Michael and daughters Lindsay and Lauren. ··Heck, even the CatL'>oef ALS is a mystel)': STU COWAN "There are no medications. drugs or even slim hope for those stricken with SPORTS EDITOR what might be one of the worst possible paths to <leath.During the relatively short rll here (lnm't enough real·life heroes period of life an ALS patient has (90 per today in the world of sports. cent of us \\li11 die v/ithin the first five H seems that rarely a \~'eekgoes by with· years), I can expect to face progressively out yet another story allout a pro athlete failing muscles throughout my body, in BENOIT PELOSSE MONTREAL ALOUETTES electrocnting and drowning dogs, failing a concert with the increasing inability to Once an Alouette, always an Alouette: Tony Proudfoot and Ed George, holding drug test, physically threatening a line flmetion without assjstance. Tony Proudfoot Impact Award, reminisce during halftime ceremony last Sunday. judge, Ileating up a taxI driver over "I can therefore chart my demise with. 20 cents, or choking or beating a wife or oslenslbl), little to look forward to:' girlfliellll. He added: "I am not looking tor sympa· dal," he added. "either as a member of s0- proUd to be associated \\ith him:' But there is one real-life hero I know: thy, tears or even prayers. It is extremely ciety or on a football team. I do believe, George calls the Alouettes players from Tony Prou(UOOl. important to me that more people lUlder- though, that everyone is paJi of the bigger tile 19705 a "band of brothers" who stll! re- Proudfoot was a hero as an nthlete. play- stand what this terrible (lisease is all about picture and 1am proud that 1am associal- main close. and they shared hUgsand tears ing 12 years as a defensive back in the and perhaps stimulate illcreasedlobbying ed lIith whatth is trophy staJlds tOl:" last weekend. The words "once an AIou- Canadian Football League, including nine to aIfect how ALS research is funded." The first wilmer of the awm'd was almost ette. always an Alouette" were said often with the Alollettes. winning t\<\.'OGrey Even as PromUbot's health deteriorates. left speechless himself for a difTerent rea- during the <linnet; and it was a good night Cups. He was later a hero as a teachel~ Claudiue Cook, the executive dIrector of son. Holding back his emotions, hulking for Proudfoot. too. earnIng an excellence in teaching award at the ALS Society of Quebec, calls him .." former offensive lineman and Canadian "One thing that I have come to acknowl· Dawson College. And he was a hero on that beacon of hope and inspiration for so Football Hall of FameI' Ed George cOludn't edge, players that you have struggled and terrlille day in September 2006. when a many fal11iliesand individuals struggling say much lllorethan: "Thank you.,. won ,\;I·,rith are. indeed: 'teammates for life,'" gunman open(-K! fire on Dawson students. with this telTIllle dIsease." But you just kmnv George had more he Proudtbot wrote me in an email exchange \\~lile others dncked for covel: Prou(Uoot And through It all, Proudfoot has some- wanted to say,so 1reached him by phoue at last Wednesday. "Everywhere 1go I get a rushed to the aid or a 23-)'em"-old male who how managed to keep his sense of hUlllour. his Virginia home on Thurscla), strong sense of support. and that is an 11adbeen hit In the back of the head Ily a At an Alouettes Alumni AssocIation (Un- "I was definitely caught short tor amazing feeling. one that allows me to put bullet. administering first aid untH ambu- ner last Satunko;' night to preseut the first words." George said. 'Tm deeply honoured this \vhole terrifYing disease in a place lances arrived. The student sun-ive(1. Tony Proudloot [mp,.1ctAward - wlJich wll! by it. To say the leas, 1was slll'prised, and where it does not overwhelm me.,. Proudfoot continues to be a hero tmayas go annually to a former Alouette "\4.o'hhao s to say more I was actually honom'ed to be Once an i\.lOllette,always an Alouette. he battles amyotrophic lateral sclerosis stood out tor his continued contributions even thought of (tor tile award). 1still can·t And Tony Proudtooi wlll always be a (ALS) - better knolll1 as Lou Gehrig's (US· to the community, to the Alouettes. to the get over it. hero. ease. 'While fighting the deadly disease for AlunllJi Association, the CFL and football" "I've always conSidered Thny a class act. the last two years - which has now taken - Proudfoot. usIng computer speech soft~ He always held htmseU" as a gentleman away his ability to speak - he created The ware. stalied by saj'1ng: and a nice person _ . he is a nice man_ To l'ony Pl'QucUootfund, ill conjtmetiol1 with "Imagine. Not many people have a trophY see the courage that he is showing with the ALS Society of Quebec, to raise money named in their honour. I am either very what he's got on his plate. 1meall, that's the To make a contribution to the Tony for ALS research. specIal or dead. and I llke the first option real deal. WlJere you get that fromI'd love Proudfoot Fund, visit the website at Lost December. Proudfoot \Hote a first· much bette,' so 1am slicking Witllthatoue. to know ... I've never seen anything like sla-quebec.ca, then go to the link for the person story for The Gazette about his bat- "1 have never considered myself spe~ that. I take my damn hat ot1 to him and I'm Tony Proudfoot Fund..