BLACK BELT SPARS WITH DEATH, LAUGHS AND
REACHES OUT
Dave McNeill pushes his life into new realms
BY PETER THOMPSON
Appeal Staff Writer, pthompson@nevadaappeal.com
July 18, 2005
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Bob on the
left and Master Dave McNeill
stand in the dojo at
his Minden, Nevada home Friday.
McNeill, an eighth-degree black
belt, has turned his recent fight
against cancer into a push-up
drive called "Keep
on Pushin'," a cancer research
fund-raising organization. Cathleen
Allison/Nevada Appeal |
As an eighth-degree black belt known around the world as the master
of the Goju-Shorei Weapons System (self-defense using knives, fans
and canes), Carson Valley's Dave McNeill was pretty well-prepared
for any opponent.
But when the 64-year-old suddenly started feeling weak and lethargic
and his lymph nodes became sore, he realized
he was being attacked by an new and unfamiliar
assailant. The diagnosis: Squamous cell carcinoma of the neck.
Life became a white-knuckle ride for the black belt. No lethal
kicks, shutos or flowery katas could help him in this fight. But
like sparring against any tough opponent, the blows he took became
invaluable new tools for survival.
"(The cancer) was the most amazing thing that ever happened
to me!" he said with a confident laughter.
After being released from the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in
Nashville, Tenn., in December, McNeill was 55 pounds lighter and
so weakened from the cancer treatment that he couldn't even do a
single push-up.
It was a blow to his 34 years of martial arts practice. "Push-ups
are an integral part of the martial arts," he
said. "Everybody does push-ups - if you screw-up, you do push-ups;
if you don't, you do push-ups ..."
McNeill sat on the mat for a moment and took stock of his life.
He had a hospital bill comparable to the national debt. His taste
buds had been damaged by the chemotherapy.
Life was different.
But he was alive.
His saw his wife of 43 years, MaryAnn, in a new light.
"I get to fall in love with her all over, every single day
when I wake up," he said. "I'm a lucky man."
As McNeill regained his old strength, the new attitude stuck. He
wanted to help others going through similar
struggles. He began to write a book called "The Chemo Dojo," interviewing
other martial artists who had survived
cancer and writing about what aspects
of the discipline had worked for him while battling the deadly opponent.
And those push-ups came.
McNeill, who challenged his class to complete more than 2,000 push-ups
over the July Fourth weekend, is starting a charity called "Keep
on Pushin'" to raise money for cancer.
In July 2006, he hopes to have a national infrastructure, sponsorship
and branding in place, similar to Jump Rope for Heart. Each participant
would attempt 2006 push-ups.
These days, McNeill says he feels fantastic. He
wakes up, throws on some raucous music, and looks at every
situation as an opportunity to laugh.
"It's all about attitude," he
said.
For more information on Dave McNeill's "Keep on Pushin,'" call
267-2506. Contact reporter Peter Thompson
at pthompson@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1215.
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