This is a touching feature article contributed by a local high school student (L.M.) about his most inspirational coach.
The leader I have chosen for this assignment is Trevor Cranney. He has helped influence me, and many other young men, over the past five years in Kanata. He has not only influenced us in the game football but also the game of living life to the fullest.
Trevor lives in Carleton Place, Ontario and is the father of one of my teammates, Austin Cranney. He has a wife and three children. He has coached both hockey and football during his adult life. A few years ago, in December of 2012, Trevor was diagnosed with ALS and he has not let that diagnosis alter his life in any way. His inspiration and determination to be the best you can be no matter what you have been dealt in life has been a real motivator for the team. With his ALS condition he takes each day like there is no tomorrow because for him there may not be. He keeps fighting to beat this disease even though the doctors say he doesn’t stand a chance. Trevor now has had ALS for over 3 years. The doctors told him he would survive until approximately August of 2015. He goes everywhere now in a battery powered wheelchair because he can’t walk around anymore, but he stills goes everywhere, to games, to practices, to hockey games, and so on. He doesn’t let not being able to dress himself slow him down either. He gets help and keeps on going. He can’t get out of bed by himself anymore either. He can’t do all of these simple things in life that everyone else takes for granted. Trevor is still continuing to fight and he is alive well past when he was expected to die from this illness. He still believes there is a chance he can win this fight.
When he was diagnosed with ALS his family had just moved out to Alberta four months prior to his diagnosis to start a new job and a new life. He and his family then decided to move back to Ontario to be near his wife’s family so she would have support in the hard times to come. He also then became a beacon of will and strength, not only for his grieving family, but also for our football team. After moving back to Ontario Austin came back to the Kanata Knights the fall of 2013, along with Trevor as coach, and as a team we have had many fundraising events for ALS treatment and prevention.
Trevor is mostly a social approach coach. He loves to get to know the guys and be encouraging to the team, but he knows how precious it is to make friends with people and that the game isn’t worth it if you’re not having any fun along the way. To help us relax before our toughest game of the season, Trevor brought the team to see the movie When the Game Stands Tall. If you’ve ever seen the movie you know it’s about a team that plays for his coach after he has had a heart attack. This was very appropriate because of his fairly recent diagnosis, and we all supported him and respected him. He helped us to calm our nerves before a really challenging game at the end of that week. We surprised him at that game when we had all of our individual name tags changed to read Team Cranney to show that this game was going to be for him and there was no way we were going to lose. Sure enough, through sheer grit and determination, we won the game under the Friday night lights.
Trevor has made a significant impact on the society of Kanata by raising ALS awareness and funding. Trevor was one of the main people who started the big ice bucket challenge that went nationwide to significantly increase ALS funding. Also, Trevor had a contest to see what Kanata Knight football players could write the best essays and had a few prizes of $1000 awarded for scholarships. A lot more people are aware in our community now how difficult ALS is not only to the person with ALS, but also to their whole family.
Trevor, as a leader, is motivational. If you are slacking he’ll let you know. Not in a mean way, but in an encouraging, he has got your back, type of way. In my own opinion, Trevor is a very influential leader and he is the kind of leader and coach that you motivates you to such height that you don’t ever want to let him or yourself down.
