2007 Mehlville Football Program Book

In Memory of a Very Special Panther

Mark David DeWalle
#66
October 6, 1982 - June 13, 2007

    1 State Championship            All Conference
1 Conference Championship         All District
   1 District Championship        All Metro Honorable Mention

Recipient of the Panther Spirit Award with 1999 Teammates
Voted by Teammates as Team Captain
Voted by Teammates as Most Outstanding Linebacker
Voted by Teammates as Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman

Mark fell in love with Mehlville Football when he was 10 years old. There was never a player more excited to put on the Panther jersey for his first game. Mark started 42 consecutive games, a record 33 of them being Varsity starts.

He was a proud member of the 1999 Mehlville Senior High School Football State Championship Team, a team captain and winner of many accolades including the Fellowship of Christian Athlete's Courageous Heart Award. He was loved by his teammates and coaches, and Mark equally loved them.

Mark fought his cancer with courage and determination...and often said the skills he learned in Panther football helped him face his battles. It is Mark's legacy that every Mehlville Football Panther learn the skills and courage that will not only carry them throughout the season, but for the rest of their lives.

Just hours before his death, Mark requested that he have his state championship medal placed on him. To Mark, that medal symbolized all of his teammates and the bond he had with them. He wanted them to be there with him at the end. Mark was a true champion throughout his life and will always be remembered for his Panther Spirit.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is classified as a soft tissue sarcoma. It is an aggressive and rare tumor that primarily occurs as multiple masses in the abdomen. There are no known risk factors specific to the disease. There are few early warning signs that indicate a person may have DSRCT. Victims are usually young, healthy and the tumors grow and spread uninhibited within the abdominal cavity. Because this is a rare tumor, not many physicians or oncologists are familiar with the disease. DSRCT in young patients may be mistaken for other abdominal tumors such as ovarian tumors in females and testicular tumors in males.

Mark's family would like to raise awareness for the importance of self testicular exams in young men. By practicing self testicular exams, Mark was able to discover his disease very early.

Please go to the following websites to learn more about:
Mark:           www.markdewalle.com
DSRCT:       www.dsrct.com
Self Exams:   www.cancerlinusa.com/testicular/selfexam.htm