INDIANAPOLIS – Inspiration stood in a corner of the Indianapolis Colts’ indoor facility as music blared in the background and fans checked out the various exhibits, kiosks and memorabilia items on silent auction tables.
There was Chuck Pagano.
And Jim Kelly.
Two cancer survivors committed to paying it forward.
The 13th annual Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala unfolded Friday evening, and it mirrored the previous 12.
“Very humbling, obviously,’’ Pagano said, “but we’re here for one reason and one reason only and that’s to raise money for cancer research.
“Research helped save my life.’’
The Colts named Pagano their head coach in 2012, but cancer intervened. He was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in September and missed 12 games while undergoing treatment at the IU Simon Cancer Center in downtown Indy. He returned to the sidelines for the Colts’ regular-season finale against Houston.
“I got on the other side of this thing and (wife) Tina and I said . . . we would pay it forward,’’ Pagano explained. “We said we’re going to do this as long as we can and we’re here 13 years later.
“This thing is still going strong, and it’s because of the generosity and selflessness of this community and everybody at IU Simon Cancer Center. Mr. Irsay and the Irsay family have been phenomenal.’’
The Colts opened their doors for Pagano’s event long after he was fired after the 2017 season. He clearly remains close to the team and Irsay family even though his post-Indy career has included a stint as the Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator and being named a senior secondary assistant with the Baltimore Ravens.
Owner Jim Irsay, Pagano added, is “the most generous human being that I know.’’
The first 12 Chuckstrong events raised more than $15 million for cancer research at the IU Simon Center.
“I’m just so grateful I have a platform and still able to bring awareness to such an egregious disease,’’ Pagano, 64, said. “We’ve all had to say goodbye to loved ones much too soon.’’
Event organizers have attempted to include Kelly in previous years, and finally, the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback’s schedule allowed.
He’s a cancer survivor, four times over.
Kelly, 65, initially was diagnosed with cancer in his jaw in 2013 and saw it spread to his nasal cavities in 2014, which required chemo and radiation treatments. He was declared cancer-free in 2016, but it returned in 2018, necessitating a 12-hour surgery that involved using bone fragments from his fibula to reconstruct his jaw.
Like Pagano, Kelly has maximized his prominence as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2002 to inspire cancer awareness and perseverance through every adversity. His 11-year career with the Buffalo Bills resulted in 35,467 yards, 237 touchdowns and the distinction of being the catalyst of the only team in NFL history to reach four consecutive Super Bowls. The Bills lost all four.
“My motto is, ‘I might have lost four Super Bowls in a row, but I kicked cancer’s butt four times,’’ Kelly said.
His life journey also includes losing his son Hunter, who was born Feb. 14, 1997 – his father’s birthday – and diagnosed with Krabbe Leukodystrophy, an inherited fatal nervous system disease. Although doctors expected Hunter to live less than 2 years, he passed away at age 8.
“My son made me who I am today,’’ Kelly said. “His resiliency and his fight he had in his heart showed me and told me, ‘You know what? You can do this, too, Dad.’
“And here I am.’’
There were times, he conceded, when it was difficult to deal with another cancer setback.
“What my son went through every day for eight years, he never gave up once in his life,’’ Kelly said. “Going through (cancer) four times knowing God had plans for me.
“Now, I travel the country. I try to make a difference for others that don’t want to see tomorrow. . . . My saying now is, ‘Make a difference today for someone who’s fighting for tomorrow.’ In the world we live in today, there’s too many people who don’t want to see tomorrow. If I can make that difference for a handful of people by what I say, then I know why God put me here in this position.’’
Pagano insisted Kelly’s story should “inspire people and bring hope to people that are fighting right now.
“We know cancer doesn’t discriminate. It affects all of us in one way, shape or form.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.
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