MORE: Story 10 | Story 9 | Story 8 | Story 7 | Story 6 | Story 5 | Story 4 | Story 3 | Story 2
Faith and hope. They were two of the driving pillars for Tyler Trent.
Over the course of a few months last fall, Trent became the face of Purdue. As he bravely stared down a deadly cancer that would eventually take his life, Trent always was thinking of others. It was never about him or his terminal illness. He didn’t want your pity. He wanted you to help others fighting cancer. All the while, Trent cheered on his Boilermakers.
His story was recounted from coast to coast. National networks featured him. Celebrities reached out. Trent became part of our collective family. We shared in his suffering. And we shared in his hope that one day there would be a cure for cancer.
"I can look back on my life, even stuff from the last few weeks, and say I know it's the truth," said Trent in the month leading up to his passing in January. "Over a year ago, I prayed to have the ability to share my story with people. And now I have been given a national stage to share my story. And most everyone knows my name. Being able to physically and tangibly look back at things like that helps keep me grounded in my faith.”
Trent used his misfortune as an opportunity to spread the word about cancer. It was about raising awareness … and money. To that end, the Tyler Trent Research Endowment was established. Trent may have been frail and confined to a wheelchair, but his words carried a lot of strength and heft—none more than the ones from his favorite Biblical verse that was imprinted on the yellow wristbands he loved to hand out to anyone who asked.
1 THESS. 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Trent’s legacy will live not just in his research endowment, but also at Ross-Ade Stadium. That’s the place we first were introduced to Trent, who was camping out on a Friday night prior to a game vs. Michigan in September 2017. His body already was a wisp as he hobbled around on a crutch. Didn’t matter. Trent wanted to be part of the action on Saturday. He wanted to cheer on his Boilermakers.
In March, Purdue president Mitch Daniels unveiled plans for a sweeping steel arch over Gate E—the gate students pass through to enter Ross-Ade Stadium.
"The Tyler Trent Memorial Gate" will be erected before the start of the football season. It will include gold lettering and the moniker “T2,” Trent’s signature mark. Just to the left of the gate, on Ross-Ade’s brick façade, a plaque with Trent’s image will read “Forever Our Captain.”
“There are no words, really,” said Tony Trent, Tyler’s father. “This is quite an honor. And it’s humbling. There are just no words to express our gratitude to Purdue University and our gratitude to everybody involved who made this happen. The people who sacrificed and donated the steel … we are just grateful.”
The world is grateful to have met Tyler Trent.
Membership Info: Sign up for GoldandBlack.com now | Why join? | Questions?
Follow GoldandBlack.com: Twitter | Facebook
More: Gold and Black Illustrated/Gold and Black Express | Subscribe to our podcast
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2019. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited.
