Guest Speaking

If you are interested in a motivational speaker that has been a very important part of our efforts to educate young men please contact Coach Dave Porter at dporter@testicularcancer.org. Dave was Jason's basketball coach and became a very good friend and provided much needed support during his ordeal

What others say about Dave's presentations -

"Dave Porter has demonstrated the ability to communicate effectively with all ages about the importance of self-examination. He can very effectively explain the need for self-examination in a way that both 10 year olds and adults can identify with and motivate them to tell others."

"Dave's passion for this cause can best be exemplified by my son understanding the need for self-examination, discovering a tumor and reacting quickly enough that he has gone for over 5 years since the biopsy and operation, to be cancer free."

-Tim Vicente

"Dave Porter is the caretaker of Jason Struble's dream of saving young lives through education. He is living proof that you can do anything if
you have strong belief in a cause. And, make no mistake about it -- Jason's last wish is Dave Porter's cause."

"Coach Porter's passion grabs you by the collar and gets your attention. He is a must speaker for camps and clinics. His message has tremendous impact and emotion. He makes you laugh and cry, often at the same time. Bottom line on this guy Porter: he's already saved more than a dozen lives with his message. He only needs a chance to save more. Just give
him the chance to deliver."

-Doug Elgin
Commissioner
Missouri Valley Conference

About Dave and his presentation -

Dave Porter frequently says ---“What you gave today you have, what you didn’t give you’ve lost forever.” Coach talk to be sure. Gut check, mental toughness, player-coach relationships, sacrifice, go the extra mile, commitment, challenges, and goal setting are all examples of the little things coaches talk to players about.

In February of 1990, two days after a tremendous win by the Lafayette Lancer basketball team; Coach Dave Porter began a new education on these terms. The lessons, the new challenges and goals would be taught by one of Coach Porter’s players. Jason Struble, a senior honored on that February night would be diagnosed with testicular cancer two days later and embarked on a twenty-six month battle for his life. Day after day Jason redefined the age-old terms many coaches use to motivate and challenge their players. Coach Porter made weekly visits to Jason’s home in an effort to lift his spirits as Jason battled for his life. After each visit, it would be Coach Porter whose spirits were lifted as he watched this brave young man meet each challenge, setback and medical disappointment with an unbelievable positive attitude. He constantly would tell his coach, “it’s going to be alright, and I’ll beat this.” In the twenty-sixth month of Jason’s fight it became apparent he could not win his fight for life and Jason became a planner. He told his Mother he didn’t want to die at nineteen years old and his life have no meaning. He said, “If I would have just told someone I could have lived because testicular cancer is 95% curable.” Jason’s challenge to his Mother was to educate every young boy in St Louis about the changes in their bodies and the body’s warning signs. Dave believed that the challenge was actually meant for the Coach. It was payback time for the Coach. A chance for Coach Porter to make a difference in the lives of young men to in fact, insure that Jason’s life would have meaning and his dream that one life could be saved.

Dave Porter has had many challenges in a thirty-five year coaching career. In the summer of 2003, he was inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. In January, Dave won his 500th career basketball game. It takes lots of outstanding young men to get coaches this kind of recognition. Dave has had more than his share of great players but says that the one player that has had the greatest impact on his life is Jason. Dave has accepted Jason’s challenge to educate young men about testicular cancer. Dave has had many speaking appearances in Missouri, Kansas, and Indiana about the importance of self-examination as a means of early detection and a cure for testicular cancer. He tells a heart-warming story about a basketball game and a brave young man who played the game with passion and love and fought even harder for his life. Coach will make you laugh with his story, coin tricks, songs and general coach talk. Then he will make you cry as he takes you from a four-year story about a very average basketball player, to the story about the bravest young man he ever met and the twenty-six month battle for life. This is a story all parents should hear, not live. It is a story that all boys in middle school through college must hear. It is a story that has already saved twelve lives that we know of and changed many, many more.

Dave has made his presentation to middle schools, high schools, colleges, and detention centers. He has been a speaker at an American Cancer Society’s award dinner. He is a frequent speaker at basketball camps and churches. There is no group of young men too large or too small to hear this story. The need for this message to go to parent groups may be the most important of all audiences.

Help us make Jason’s wish come true. Help us save the lives of young men. Make sure your school or organization puts Dave Porter on their list of speakers you must hear.

500 wins in basketball are small compared to 12 wins in the game of life.