Details on the Stefanie's Champions Award program

4/24/2001

The Stefanie's Champions Award annually recognizes six people who acted as "champions" in the lives of Ohio cancer survivors and this year two area people are winners of the honor.

Chris Spielman, the first Stefanie's Champion award winner, is accustomed to accolades from his career at Ohio State University. A Pro Bowl linebacker for the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills, he put his football career on hold in 1998 to help his wife, Stefanie, cope with breast cancer.

Mrs. Spielman, who is battling a recurrence of cancer, honored her husband with the first Stefanie's Champions award at the inaugural luncheon last year. This year's honorees were chosen from more than 100 nominations from throughout Ohio. Winners will be honored tomorrow at a luncheon ceremony at the Columbus Convention Center.

"Every cancer survivor can name someone who stood by them, gave them courage, and helped them through," Mrs. Spielman wrote in a contest brochure. "These are the champions."