Coach Brad Wims will always be remembered by students for both his strength and his dedication here at Creek. Since he was diagnosed with cancer, many students and teachers have pulled together to help raise money to benefit the Wims family.

Coach Wims and his family received the news of his cancer in 2007. His affliction was a rare type of cancer called chondrosarcoma, which affects the bone marrow in the body. His body was attacked by cancer cells and various treatments for over two years. He underwent many surgeries that would force him to undergo physical therapy. Coach Wims passed away on March 2.

“I am relieved that he is no longer suffering, I am so proud for the fight he fought,” Coach Wims’ wife, Jenny Wims said.

Mrs. Wims continues to upload news to their family blog, thewims.blogspot.com. Found in the family blog are pictures and stories of the Wims family. They have two children, Zeke and Kaelyn.

“I just want to say “thank you” for all of the ways you made Brad feel special and help cared for him,” Mrs. Wims wrote on the family blog. “During a challenging time in our life, we are continually lifted up by your efforts to make life easier for us in some way. God has blessed our family with the most amazing support group.”

All students were invited to participate in the fun run fundraiser in honor of Coach Wims. Although Wims passed away before the fun run could take place, the Wims family decided to continue the fun run in honor and memory of their beloved coach.

Creek teachers Melissa Ward, Tracey Coughenour, and the School of Heath Science came up with the fun run idea. “He was a member of our Clear Creek Family and we wanted to do it for him,” Tracey Coughneour, team leader of the Health Science smaller learning community, said.

According to fellow teacher Linda Huebner, over 400 people signed up for the fun run to support the Wims family. However, on that Saturday over 600 hundred people showed up to run, including many members of the Wims family.

Ryan Siller and Chris Magnuson, juniors at Creek have fond memories of Mr. Wims. Both students took BCIS freshman year and share a favorite memory.
“My favorite memory was when Mr. Wims played the A&M fight song as I was walking into class, the day after A&M beat UT. It was pretty funny, even though I’m a huge UT fan,” Siller said.

Magnuson and Siller both attended the fun run and ran for the memory of their teacher. “I volunteered because I thought it was a good thing. It was in his memory and he was a good guy,” Siller said.

The fun run lasted five kilometers. Scott Bockart, principal of Clear Creek High School, and Mr. Jamey Majewski, Director of Human Resources for Secondary Education, spoke in honor of Mr. Wims. All the proceeds went to the Wims family to help with bills, and though the amount of money raised is still not known, Coughenour believes around $11,000 was raised.

Former BCIS student Chris Magnuson said, “He was a great teacher and an awesome guy. He will be missed at Creek.”

About a month after Mr. Wims’s passing Jenny Wims posted a poem in honor of her husband on the site. “…I am so happy when I think about him being completely healed and without pain. I sure do miss that man. I would love to see his beautiful smile right now.”