Cancer is Not an Excuse, it is Motivation, with Bryce Steele

06/03/24 • 50 min

Some life lessons we are forced to learn earlier than others. For Bryce Steele, he learned at age 17 that suffering is part of the journey and that bad things can happen to good people. In September of 2019, Bryce was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called thymoma, which after the initial treatment, would still return two more times. Cancer was not part of his plan of a being a future college linebacker. Initially, Bryce was recruited by over 30 schools around the country to play football including Ohio State, Texas, Michigan, and Tennessee, but cancer narrowed the list and ultimately, he was led to Boston College. When the cancer returned a 3rd time, surgery and treatment set him back physically but he has fought to defy all odds to return to the field. It was during one of his routine scans at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, that Bryce met Matt and Bill Moran in the waiting room. While they connected because of their cancer journeys and several mutual friendships, there was also an admiration and appreciation in how each was living and battling. Matt immediately saw the maturity, charisma, and faith of Bryce and the positivity he carried despite the battle. Prayers, support, this podcast, and some motivational words from Bill would just be part of the relationship that sprung from this chance meeting. In addition, the stories of both Matt and Bryce are being shared in an article appearing on the Jimmy Fund website. In conjunction with the article, a fundraising Giving Page was created to help fight cancer in honor of Matt and Bryce’s journey - http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/mattmoranandbrycesteele. Direct donations can be made there online, or by mail at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or by phone 800 525 4669.

Through the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, Bryce has been surrounded by love from his family, his girlfriend, the University, and from the staff at the Dana Farber Institute in Boston. We hope you will also join us in supporting, praying and perhaps donating. The 2024 football season is also just around the corner for Boston College so keep your eye out for number 2 for the Eagles, that's Bryce. He is courageously preparing and is optimistic about all that is ahead for his future.
The video version of this episode can be found here on Youtube.

Previous Episode

Every Day is Hard and Every Day is Beautiful, with Ellen Duncan

Ellen Duncan strives to live a life of joy alongside grief. Every day she models strength, love, and faith for her daughters and all who know her. In July 2022, life took a shocking turn and she lost her husband Paul of 10 years while he was out on a morning run. A heart condition - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – which Paul was unaware he had, took his life and created a new path for the family. In this conversation with host Bill Moran, Ellen shares the love story between her and Paul and it’s beginnings during the autumn of 2009 on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Paul, a graduate student and offensive tackle for the Fighting Irish, and Ellen, in her junior year, found a deep connection that evolved from friendship into a profound love. Two years later they married and began a family. After a short time in the NFL, Paul built a successful career as an industry leader in construction management with the Walsh Group in Atlanta, while in 2020, Ellen founded a strategic marketing company called Pineapple Partners. Their story and life together was filled with joy and efforts to live each day to the fullest. No one is ever prepared for the hardship that lands in their path, but Ellen felt touched by the Holy Spirit and has slowly been putting the pieces in place to honor Paul’s big-hearted life by helping others and finding daily strength despite the ever-present grief. On her Instagram page -@pineapplellen -Ellen inspires others who are dealing with loss by sharing her experiences of grief, hope, love and faith, demonstrating and again modeling a path forward. Paul was only 35 and was taken too soon, but he created a light with Ellen that she shines onto others through her work and her smile. Her grace filled story that she shares will lift anyone who has touched loss, can be heard here and watched here.

Before Matt passed in August of 2023, he followed Ellen on Instagram and had discussed having her on the WGM show. Some commonality in their stories but mostly Matt saw Ellen’s wisdom, her desire to be present, and wanted to shine his light on her story. May the Heavenly light of both Paul and Matt inspire and bless all of those listening today.

Next Episode

Running Marathons to Make a Difference, with Mike Kloepfer

For many, running just one marathon is a life goal and puts you in a category with only .01% of the global population who even attempt this feat each year. But imagine running 111 marathons? Now we are talking about a very select group that has ever pulled off this rare achievement. Michael Kloepfer is one of those special individuals who runs not only for the pure joy of it but for the purpose of raising money to support cancer research at Sloan Kettering. Since he started running marathons in 1996 at age 42 through his most recent New York City marathon finish at age 70, Mike and his team have raised over 1 million dollars to help beat cancer through Sloan Kettering. He has run races all over the world and is a winner of the Abbott medal for completing all 6 world major marathons (and leads all Abbott medal winners with 77 total finishes). He has now run 28 consecutive NYC marathons and is one of 108 people with active streaks over 25 for the Boston Marathon. Of course, any achievement like this doesn’t come without challenges which for Mike has included fighting his own cancer in 2024. He has received surgery, is in complete response (successful removal), and is ready to keep going in 2025! Every step is that much more meaningful for Mike now as he continues to make a difference by assisting other patients in need. If you’d like to contribute and help Mike reach his $200k goal (he has already personally raised $100k), go to fredsteam.org and either enter Mike Kloepfer or his team name, Mikey’s team.

Enjoy this inspirational podcast and listen to the many stories Mike shares about his adventures and people he has met along the way including Grete Waitz, Dr. Howard Scher, and Aubrey Barr (video link tells her story). A word of caution, Mike’s story has inspired many, so know by listening to this podcast you may find yourself thinking about joining the marathon craze and running the NYC streets with Mike raising money for Sloan Kettering! You can listen here or watch here.

With Gratitude, Matt - Cancer is Not an Excuse, it is Motivation, with Bryce Steele

Transcript

00:00:01.201

Well, hello with gratitude Matt listeners. Bill Moran here. I have exciting news and I have a call to action. Before we play this wonderful episode of Matt Moran and his meeting Bryce Steele in the waiting room at Dana-Farber, we have a call to action. We would like you to support those that are battling cancer and help them find the courage to be grateful. And one way to do that is by donating to the Matt Moran and Bryce Steele giving page at Dana-Farber, its Dana-Fa