Longtime West Hartford Coach Battling Rare Cancer

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The community is rallying for longtime sports personality and current Hall-Southington co-op hockey coach Brian Cannon after a recent cancer diagnosis.

A Go-Fund-Me account has been set up to defray his medical costs. It also details his recent struggles with chronic pain and the discovery of a tumor during hip replacement surgery, which will require his leg be amputated.

The goal is to raise $50,000 and, as of Thursday, just more than $24,000 had been pledged.

According to the GoFundMe page: "Brian Cannon has been walking around in pain for two years. He has spent decades giving his time and knowledge back to the West Hartford community as a youth and high school hockey coach and mentor.

"He went through two surgeries before finally going in for a complete hip replacement. Brian has been an amazing warrior and leader. He has never let his pain or debilitating limp stop him from reporting to work every day, coaching the Hall-Southington hockey team, supporting his family and doing all of his daily life activities.

"On July 26, 2019 Brian went in for his hip replacement surgery. They had to stop the surgery when they saw what looked like a tumor. On August 1, 2019 it was confirmed that Brian has cancer. He was diagnosed with Synovial Chondrosarcoma. A very rare type. Only about 2,000 people (0.00000571%) get this kind of cancer annually in America. It is not receptive to chemotherapy or radiation.

"Brian will have to have his entire right leg amputated as well as part of his pelvis and hip joint removed. At this stage, this is the only alternative to a death sentence. We do not know if reconstructive surgery is an option for any type of prosthetic. Brian will be mostly wheelchair bound and have to use crutches. This GoFundMe page is being set up to help make Brian’s house handicap accessible and to create first floor living accommodations. This is going to be a long journey and there will be medical bills, as well as, day to day bills. The financial costs will be insurmountable. Any kind of support will be appreciated. Brian and his family need YOUR help. If you can, please donate, even the smallest amount, to help alleviate some of the financial burden for such a well respected man and family."

To make a donation, click here or visit here.

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