Story by Bill Bigelow

Photos by Pete Erickson

The Bulletin

ULVER – They didn’t win enough football games this season to take the league title, or even to make the state playoffs. But the 2004 Culver Bulldogs are undisputed champions – at least in the eyes of one little boy.

Brendon Moore celebrated his sixth birthday last month, and, sadly, his doctors don’t believe he’ll live to see another. He was diagnosed two years ago with neuroblastoma, a relatively rare, but aggressive, cancer of the nervous system that generally develops in young children.

Brendon, who knows he’s sick but is unaware of his fate, calls it simply ”the icky.”

His parents, Steve and Sandra Moore, are no less devastated by their son’s plight than they are determined to make his limited remaining time as pain-free and happy as possible.

They’ve had help, much of it from the Culver High School football team.

”It’s been amazing,” says a grateful Steve Moore, who moved to Culver from Portland in August with his wife and ailing son. ”What they’ve done for Brendon, for all of us … just amazing.”

But in his own way, young Brendon has more than returned the favor.

Sparrow Clubs USA is a national nonprofit organization of school-based clubs that assist children in medical crisis and the families of those children. Headquartered in Bend, the program earlier this fall made Brendon Moore the ”adopted” Sparrow child of the Culver High football team.

”We do what we can, little as it is, really,” says Kurt Davis, the Bulldogs’ head coach. ”More than anything else, we put a smile on the kid’s face.”

The team gave Brendon an authentic Culver High football jersey – No. 2, in Bulldog black and orange – which he has been known to wear all day and then to bed at night. When his kindergarten teacher, Kelly Seaton, visited Brendon at his home, the first thing the boy wanted to show her was that big, baggy jersey.

”The second thing,” Seaton says, ”was a picture of him with the football team.”

Brendon spent a special evening with the team a couple of weeks ago at a gathering hosted by Coach Davis. There, the youngster rode a horse for the first time and by all accounts was the life of the party.

With his parents at his side, Brendon has attended several of the Bulldogs’ home games this season and a few of the team’s practices as well. He’ll watch the action on the field, but only for so long. Then he’ll grab one of his assortment of child-sized footballs and play catch and other games with his dad until Steve is ready to drop.

”Sometimes I think he (Brendon) has more energy than both of us,” says Sandra.

Watching him play, one would never suspect that Brendon is gravely ill, that he spends every third week at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland undergoing treatment that his parents say is effective only in easing his discomfort (and causing him to lose his hair). The treatment does practically nothing to combat his terminal disease.

”There’s nothing else that they can do,” says Sandra.

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Through community-service projects sponsored by Sparrow Clubs – including climbing up the north side of Juniper Butte with 25 gallons of paint to touch up the huge white insignia ”C” that looks down over the town – the football team has raised hundreds of dollars for Brendan Moore and his family. The fund-raising has helped make it possible for Steve Moore, the family breadwinner, to leave his job with Roadrunner Construction in Madras in order to maximize the time he has left with his son.

”Our bills are being paid,” says Steve. ”It’s allowed us to not have to worry about those things – to some degree, anyway – and let us focus on making the best out of every moment we have. There’s no way to describe the relief and the joy that’s given us.”

With the team spearheading the effort, Brendon Moore’s story has stirred folks in this tiny farm community and beyond. For instance, The Store, a grocery market not far from the Moore family’s modest duplex residence in Culver, gave the family a $100 certificate good for merchandise there.

Davis, the football coach, helped orchestrate a dream vacation for Brendon and his parents. And with the generous funding support of Madras cattle broker Tom Norton, the Moores spent four days this past week at Disneyland in sunny Southern California.

”That’s kind of a neat thing about small towns,” says Davis. ”They hear about something like this, and they’ll rally.”

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For all they have done to help Brendon Moore and his family, the players on the Culver High football team insist that the rewards have far outweighed their sacrifices. After practice Thursday, several of the Bulldog seniors talked about Brendon and the impact he’s had on their own young lives.

”He’s really affected me,” said offensive tackle Jaymes Jones. ”He’s the same age as my little brother. Something like this … it’s made me appreciate my family all the more. You realize how easily it could be you.”

”I feel privileged to get this experience,” said Adam Kinley, a linebacker and flanker. ”Your problems seem like nothing when you realize what he’s dealing with.”

Receiver and linebacker Billy Kenyon agreed, noting that even his worst troubles seem insignificant ”when you see what he’s (Brendon’s) going through.”

”Brendon has been like an inspiration to me,” said Alex Towell, an offensive lineman and linebacker. ”To see him on the sidelines, with what he has to overcome … it makes me seem like I can do anything.”

Brian Stills has been so moved by Brendon that he authored an essay on the Sparrow experience for his writing class.

”The whole thing has kind of put life in perspective for me,” said the Bulldog running back and linebacker. ”The way he has to fight for his life every day, it really makes you appreciate life.”

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This story will not have a happy ending. Time is running out on Brendon Moore, and there’s no way to stop the clock.

Even Davis, the grizzled, battle-hardened veteran coach, chokes up when he ponders the inevitable.

”No 6-year-old kid …” he starts, then stops. ”I can’t even imagine.”

But he takes some comfort in the knowledge that the players on his football team have grown from having known their Sparrow child. And that the impact of a life too short will be felt by those young men long after it ends.

”Teenagers have this feeling of invincibility,” says Davis. ”I think an experience like this maybe makes em check their hole card.”

The coach believes that well after they’ve forgotten all the offensive plays and defensive schemes of their high school football days, his players will still remember Brendon Moore and the life lessons he has taught.

”Football players are supposed to be all macho and cool,” says Davis. ”I think this has been an opportunity for them to let their guard down a little and reach out with a feeling of compassion.

”And it maybe allows them to take a look,” he adds, ”at how fragile life can be.”

Bill Bigelow is The Bulletin’s sports editor. He can be reached at (541) 383-0359 or at bbigelow@bendbulletin.com.