by 
Warner Smith (from givewarnerachance.com)
All Warner Smith wants is a fighting chance.
Smith, who grew up in San Manuel and currently resides in Tucson, was diagnosed with Amyotrphic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
ALS is a rapidly progressive, invariably fatal neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. The average life expectancy once an individual is diagnosed is 2 – 5 years.
No cure has yet been found for ALS.
Smith was diagnosed two years ago.
A 1991 graduate of San Manuel High School, Smith earned a football scholarship to the University of Arizona (1991-94), where he was an All-Pac 10 offensive lineman. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts and enjoyed a brief NFL career before it was ended by injuries.
His San Manuel upbringing makes him an admiral opponent versus ALS, which can expect to face its toughest foe yet.
“Growing up in a mining town instilled a level of toughness that helped me throughout my whole career,” Smith told the Miner during a recent interview. “It was a childhood and a high-school career that I wouldn’t trade with anybody.”
“I think I was incredibly lucky to be raised in the miners’ lifestyle that I don’t think exists anymore,” he added. “When the mine was still open there was commonality between everyone that was there and that was special. I don’t think you can find that anywhere else.”
Smith and his wife, Becky, have a young daughter, Carlee.
Friends, family and former teammates are putting on a “Give Warner a Fighting Chance” event to help raise funds for future medical expenses, living expenses and Carlee’s college fund.
Steve Hopkins, the event chairman and one of Smith’s friends, has organized the weekend at the Starpass Marriott Resort & Spa, June 24-26. It includes a dinner, auctions, raffles and a roast of Warner on June 24, a golf tournament, lunch and a barbeque on June 25, and a family day on June 25.
Other friends have organized additional fundraisers, including t-shirts and a Big 15 Raffle, which is limited to only 300 tickets. All proceeds from the raffle will go into a trust to cover Carlee’s college education. Fifteen prizes will be awarded as part of the Big 15 Raffle, including a $5,000 cash grand prize. Other prizes include Apple laptops, five cash prizes ranging $100-$2,500, and more.
Tucker Johnson, a lifelong friend, classmate and teammate of Smith’s, is heading the Big 15 raffle. He called the pair’s friendship “one in a million.”
“Obviously, Warner has been a big part of my life since I attended school,” Johnson said. “To see him and know what he and his family are going through now really breaks my heart because this guy is a machine and he always was. To see that machine kind of break down in front of our eyes is tough.”
“He’s more of a brother than a friend,” he continued. “To see someone that I love like that and know what he is going to go through, that’s why I’m doing everything I can to help.”
Johnson is one of what he called a “chore group” of friends who have known each other for 35 years. They still hunt and “hang out” together.
Why has the small, close-knit group remained so close of the years?
“Probably because I guess we’re all nuts,” Smith responded in jest. “Just being from the Tri-Community I think everybody understands each other in a way, and has things in common with people, (that’s different) from others who aren’t from the area.”
It’s been that group of friends and more who have to come together to support the man Hopkins called a “local hometown hero.”
“On the day I learned of my diagnosis, which was before the Ice Bucket Challenge, nobody really knew what ALS was,” Smith recalled. “I can remember feeling like I was the only person on the planet and it was a very lonely feeling.”
“I’ve completely did a one-eighty from that,” he continued. “I’m touched and honored from the support I’m receiving from people.”
Smith moves around mostly by scooter these days, avoiding the unnecessary risk of falling and causing significant injury. He still continues to work his full-time job and enjoys hunting and fishing. He called himself the “same guy as always.”
Although he is keenly aware of his circumstances, as he said in a video produced by the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Smith knows some live with ALS for 20 years or more. His doctor says his diagnosis is slowly progressing and called ALS the “Snowflake Disease” – it affects everyone differently.
Smith said he tries to approach each day like his father did when his dad was fighting brain cancer – with dignity and not feeling sorry for himself.
“You can’t wake up in the morning with a doomsday scenario,” he said. “You have to keep living.”
When asked how he defines “a chance,” Smith answered no differently than you might expect anyone else with a wife and children, and without ALS.
“I want everything out of life that everyone else does and dreams of,” he said. “You want to watch your daughter grow up and you want to spend time with my wife. You want all of those things that everybody else has. I’m going to wake up every day and fight for those things just like everybody else does.”
Won’t you help give Warner a fighting chance?
Here are some of the ways to help give Warner Smith a fighting chance:
- Attending any or all of the events at the Starpass Marriott Resort & Pass, June 24-26. Call Steve Hopkins for any event questions and sponsorship packages at 520-312-1258.
- June 24 – Dinner (all-you-can-eat buffet), Auction, Roast and Dancing: $100 per person/$175 per couple
- June 25 – 8 a.m. shotgun golf tournament, novelty holes, raffles, and lunch. $150 per player/$600 per foursome
- Purchase a #TeamWarner T-shirt for $15
- To order, contact Don Boger or Chris Johnson via their respective email: donednaboger@gmail.com or odiej34@gmail.com. Also, by text message to Don Boger at 520-403-3493, and finally at the T-shirt website: www.odiej34.wix.com/minerstrong.
- Purchase a Big 15 Raffle Ticket. Click here for additional information.
- Click here to make a donation on GoFundMe.
Image of T-shirt fundraiser
Click here to find all the ways you can help.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
by by