BY ABRAHAM ANDREWS

Panther News spoke with BHS Health and Wellness teacher Craig Bren about the #StrongWILLed, the charity he started after his son, Will, was diagnosed with pediatric cancer. Since then Mr. Bren has used #StrongWILLed as a means of helping many other children going through a similar battle. 

Panther News: How did you come to teach at Beverly High?

I started teaching at Beverly High School just over two years ago now.  After 10 years of serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, I decided it was time to make a change. I left the service to become a teacher.  

While working on my education I spent an entire year as a student teacher at BMS and then a short time working with Mr. Goodhue before COVID shut down schools.  Mr. Goodhue and I developed a very close friendship in a very short time and when his cancer returned I was given the opportunity to teach his classes as a long-term substitute while working to earn my teaching license.  The following school year a new full-time teaching position was available and I was once again given the opportunity to stay here and continue my work in the Beverly school district.

Panther News: Tell me about what led you to start #StrongWILLed?

#StrongWILLed began as the rallying cry to support my youngest son William who was diagnosed with stage IV cancer in April of 2018.  The outpouring of support for my family during this time was incredible and I made it my mission to ensure we would support families and the Jimmy Fund Clinic to the best of our ability once William had a clear bill of health.  

Panther News: How did you go about creating this foundation?

#StrongWILLed Sports Memorabilia began as a small fundraiser to help support our Pan Mass Challenge fundraising and grew beyond any of my expectations into the organization it is today.

Panther News: How much did you do alone/how did you get people to join you?

In the beginning it was just me and a Facebook page I created where the fundraising would take place.  I fronted a bunch of money to buy autographed sports memorabilia and paid myself back when I could.  Slowly the group grew to eventually include over two thousand people and I had some friends who were passionate about the cause come to help me out. That was pivotal in the success of #StrongWILLed because I could not have kept up with the growth by myself.

Panther News: What are some of the things that you have done with #StrongWILLed?

We eventually grew to the point of us being able to host autograph signings and have worked with many current and former New England Patriot players including, Devin McCourty, Matthew Slater, Mac Jones, Ted Johnson, Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, Joe Andruzzi, and More.  With the profits from these types of events, we have raised and donated over $100,000 in funds and goods to children and families in need of financial and emotional support.

Panther News: What are you the most proud of?

I am most proud of the community that has been created around the #StrongWILLed brand.  The sports memorabilia business/hobby is known to be a fairly cutthroat industry and those closest to us know we stand for the exact opposite of that.  We want to utilize this hobby in the absolute most positive way possible.

Panther News: Where do you see Strong-Willed going in the future?

Despite our growth in these first few years I am hoping that #StrongWILLed Sports Memorabilia grows even beyond anything we imagined still.  We have partnered with a new cryptocurrency called Carbon.  Like us, Carbon is hoping to utilize cryptocurrency to help change the world in the most positive way by helping to reduce our Carbon footprint.  If/when things go to plan we will be able to help families on the scale of what foundations like Make-A-Wish can. 

I hope that we can get to that point but I am so happy with what we’ve been able to accomplish so far.  I don’t remember the exact quote but while watching a documentary on Ted Williams he was quoted as saying “if you have the ability to help others, you have an obligation to do so”, I feel that is what we have done at #StrongWILLed.

Panther News: How might people who want to help get involved?

The easiest way to get involved is to search #StrongWILLed Sports Memorabilia & More on Facebook and join the group.  We do raffles and other fundraising events multiple times a week plus all of our private signing events are announced there as well.  

If anyone has questions about #StrongWILLed they can also email me at strongwilledsmm@gmail.com. 

Or you can check out our Facebook group.