Don Narcisse is dancing for your lungs
- EFN Staff | November 04, 2014
Don Narcisse is a Saskatchewan Roughrider legend. He has a Grey Cup ring. He has membership in three Halls of Fame. He has the best damn touchdown dance of any Rider in history. But he also has asthma, something he never told the Riders about in his thirteen year career with the team.
“I was not up front with the Riders with my asthma because I didn’t want to make it an excuse. And when you make an excuse and you are not on the football field, somebody else gets to play your spot and take your job. I was able to keep my secret for 13 years,” said Narcisse.
With his mix of skill, stardom and personal experience dealing with lung disease, Don Narcisse is the perfect Ambassador for Lung Month. The Lung Association of Saskatchewan wants to raise awareness and money so it can continue to assist in providing ground breaking lung health research, lung health education and services, and support work that advocates for better lung health.
In an innovative social media campaign, the Lung Association is inviting people to play Truth or Dare. They challenge you to, through social media, tell a true story about lung disease and health, or, on the dare, do the famous Don Narcisse touchdown dance and post it online for the entire world to see. It is guaranteed to raise awareness but also to be fun.
“The touchdown dance is easy to do. Walk away and just make sure you bounce back. It is fun, but it is for a good cause,” said Narcisse. “We have to get the story out there about lung disease so people can talk about how it affects them, and social media is a great way to promote it.”
Don has some help promoting the month. He is joined by fellow ambassadors Brett Stovin of the Saskatoon Blades, Kevin Stanfield from Global Saskatoon, Aiden May, Lori Kleiboer, radio host Stacie Cooper, quarterback Candace Bloomquist and Neechie Gear founder Kendal Netmaker. Anyone who makes a video gets entered into a draw for WestJet flights or a trip for two to the Grey Cup in 2015 with Don Narcisse. You also get entered in the draw for donating money.
Narcisse always had trouble getting air running as a child but it wasn’t until he had a serious attack that he got scared. “I remember being rushed to the hospital because I couldn’t breathe and I remember the look of fear on my mom’s face when they put the mask over me. I didn’t know what was going on,” he said. Because of his asthma, his mom refused to put him in sports until he was in grade 7 and he wanted to be a receiver. His mom was proud when he was named MVP in grade 12. He eventually received a college scholarship and his mom dutifully sent him $20 a month to live on. When he told her had a tryout with the Riders, she gave him $40. “$20 extra for gas,” he says.
Well, the asthmatic kid from Texas made those Riders and then went on a hall of fame career and to this day, he carries around something to remind him of where he came from. “I still have that $40 my mom gave me and I show people and tell them that that $40 bought all four of these here rings,” said Narcisse as he showed his Grey Cup and Hall of Fame rings. His mom passed away five days before he was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame. She was his biggest fan and she liked his dance. “I came up with that dance by myself. I used to practice in the mirror and then I got to a point where I could just turn and look back at the defensive back and then turn back around and walk some more then turn back again. It got to a point that it was real good. Now that it is going to go viral, that’s awesome. This is a great day to be here. If you can’t breathe nothing else matters. This is a battle I’ve been fighting my whole life and I know my mom is proud.”
To participate in Truth or Dare, go to www.td4lungs.ca.