Welcome to the "Anthony Ford Memorial" blog, a site for information, events, and preservation of the life and memory of Anthony Lee Ford. Anthony died after a long battle with leukemia on April 12, 2006 at the age of nine years old. Just like in the world of sports I loved so much, it wasn't about Anthony winning or losing, but it was more important how Anthony played the game. Anthony endured a battle that many of us will never experience, showing almost warrior-like courage. Anthony had an incredible strength while fighting cancer, he would not only endure the pain or the times when his treatment did not work, but he refused to let his leukemia stop him from enjoying the things he loved to do.
Anthony loved all sports, but the one he loved most was hockey. Anthony play it, watched it and followed the NHL from start of the season to the end of the Stanley Cup play-offs. Anthony met the Colorado Avalanche, the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, and for his Make-a-wish he saw the Stanley Cup at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Anthony's dream was to become a player in the NHL, he self-proclaimed himself "The next Great One" and took the number "99" after Wayne Gretzky, who he also met in Toronto. Anthony became great friends with the Minnesota State Maverick hockey team, he became a honorary member, and after his death the team symbolically retired the number "99" in the Verizon Wireless civic center.
Away from the arena, Anthony was a very smart(an IQ of 176), kind and compassionate little boy. He loved his friends, family and his puppy "Jesse" who became inseparable. Anthony had a wonderful sense of humor, loved music, school(especially math) and outdoor activities. Anthony loved weather, severe weather was most interesting and when he grew up he wanted Jim Cantore's job on the Weather Channel.
We hope you will join us in our dedication to preserving our little "Great One's" life by helping us continue with his fight not only to find a cure for childhood leukemia, but his dream by helping one of his hockey teammates make it to the NHL.
