SPOKANE, Wash. — Sports is always more than just a game, and no one knows that quite like the Mt. Spokane Wildcats, who have rallied around their coach, Brian Gardner, as he fights against a stage four cancer diagnosis.
The slogan ‘Gardner Strong’ have become a staple at Mt. Spokane’s Friday night football games.
Gardner is well-known throughout the eastern Washington football world.
He played for Walla Walla Community College in the 90’s before transferring up to EWU for two seasons. He has since coached for several high school teams in the area over the last 22 years.
He has faced many battles on the grid iron, but none more important that the one he’s facing off the field.
“So, January 24, I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Stage three. And then, they found a spot in my lung, so I went to stage four,” said Gardner. “The first thing I thought about was my kids; I have four children.”
The news also came as a shock to his best friend and former teammate at EWU, Mt. Spokane Head Coach Terry Cloer.
“I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t talk in front of the team about it. I would just break down,” he said.
Despite losing 60 pounds during treatment, Gardner is still coaching from the sidelines.
“He’s been out there every single day. He hasn’t missed a day of practice,” said Cloer, speaking to the grit Gardner has shown throughout the process.
Mt. Spokane’s coaching staff consistently talk with their players about adversity; both on the field, and in life. The team is certainly taking note of Gardner’s battle.
“It kind of motivated us to be like, ‘Well shoot, if he’s doing this, we can push too,’ so we’re working hard right now,” said Bonnett.
The Wildcats have come together to create ‘Gardner Strong’ wristbands, organize fundraisers and generate as much support as possible.
“Right now we have a blood drive going on at the school,” said Bonnett. “If we get enough people to do the blood drive, they’re going to donate to Gardner Strong.”
Over the summer, Coach Clark organized several fundraisers for Gardner, one of which raised $7,000 for him and his family in a three hour span.
One of the schools Gardner used to coach for has chipped in as well; Northwest Christian and Asotin High School donated the proceeds from their game on November 2 to Gardner and his family.
“It’s like ‘Do I deserve this?’ This is just incredible. And with a lot of what’s going around in the world, it just shows how amazing people are and that it is a good place,” said Gardner.
The Mt. Spokane Wildcats started the season slow, 0-4, but have since stormed back, winning their last five games and earning a spot in the playoffs.
The players and coaches said that no matter what happens this post-season, the team has created a life-long bond.
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