43
Ex-pro Spielman: Don't be afraid to accept help in a crisis
Spielman, OSU and NFL great, speaks at fundraiser
POLAND
Hope can spring from loss, said Chris Spielman, former professional football player and co-founder of the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research.
Spielman was the featured speaker for Help Hotline Crisis Center’s Campaign 2015 fundraiser event Tuesday night at The Lake Club.
In dealing with difficult circumstances, even at their darkest, there is light, said Spielman, whose wife, Stefanie, died at 42 of breast cancer in 2009, leaving him with four children, 15, 13, 8 and 6, to raise.
Speaking before the program, Spielman said how one faces adversity comes down to choices.
“You can choose triumph or tragedy, peace over pain, and joy over sadness,” he said.
“Stephanie was sick for 12 years. I knew what she wanted. My promise to her was to find a way,” Spielman said quietly.
In life, bad things happen, and people have to find strength, whether it be through faith, music or books, he said.
“We’re called to be courageous in life and to stand up for something. The most important thing is to do it with love,” he said.
Spielman graduated from Washington High School in Massillon, where he was awarded the Dial Award for the national high school scholar-athlete of the year in 1983, and was the first high school athlete to have his picture on a box of Wheaties.
He graduated in 1988 from Ohio State University, where he was a two-time All-American and won the Lombardi Award as the best college football lineman or linebacker. He was subsequently elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Drafted 29th in the 1988 National Football League by the Detroit Lions, he became the team’s all-time leader in career tackles and went to four Pro Bowls. He played for the Buffalo Bills for two years, choosing to miss the 1998 season to assist his wife in her battle with cancer. He returned to the NFL for the 1999 season to play for the Cleveland Browns, but retired before the regular season after suffering a neck injury.
A documented tough guy, Spielman admitted that, at first, his ego got in the way of dealing with his wife’s breast cancer diagnosis.
“I wrongly thought that I could do it alone. Don’t let your pride get in the way of accepting help,” he advised.
Spielman said he is sure the Help Hotline volunteers are trained to offer strength and support to callers and let them know they are not alone.
“Having Chris here to raise awareness of grief and hope falls right in with what Help Hotline is about,” said Vince Brancaccio, the nonprofit organization’s chief executive officer.
“Our mission is to provide support and resources to help people dealing with crises in their lives. We are the safety net that gently catches those who are in crisis ... those who are in need,” he said.
In 2014, Help Hotline answered 196,828 telephone calls from people seeking information, including 25 calls a day from individuals contemplating suicide, help or just seeking someone to listen to them, Brancaccio said.
Here is how to donate to Help Hotline Crisis Center.
For tax-deductible gifts of $100 or more, checks should be made payable to The Youngstown Foundation with Help Hotline on the memo line. By doing this, the Youngstown Foundation will add an additional 5 percent to the contribution. For tax-deductible gifts less than $100, make checks payable to Help Hotline Crisis Center.
All checks should be sent to Help Hotline Crisis Center, P.O. Box 46, Youngstown 44501-0046.
Donations also can be made online by visiting www.help-hotline.org. Look for the “Donate” prompt. Help Hotline is a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency.