Ladies Mass includes Speaker Tony Trent, Father of Boilermaker Tyler Trent

The Ladies Mass group is hosting Tony Trent, father of the late Boilermaker Tyler Trent, for a presentation on Monday, March 4.  Tony will share how his Christian faith brought him and their family through the experience of their son's cancer battle. All are welcome to attend Tony’s Presentation at 7:00 p.m. in Newman Hall. Tyler's book, , "The Upset," will be available for purchase afterward, with proceeds benefitting the Tyler Trent Foundation.  All are welcome to attend.

About Boilermaker Tyler Trent:
(Source: Purdue Cancer Research Center

Tyler started giving as soon as cancer started taking. At just 15 years old, he saw firsthand the toll cancer took on the families of sufferers and acted on it by creating Teens with a Cause, a student support group. Trent oversaw the 200-person organization, dispatching teams to perform basic household chores for the families of cancer patients and others in need.

Trent's commitment to public service and awareness continued after his second diagnosis. Despite the fact that his replaced hip called for him to use a crutch to get around, Trent promptly became an active member of the Purdue University Dance Marathon Club once he got to campus. The student organization raises funds and awareness for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, where Trent went for treatment.

He also served as the first student member of the Institute for Cancer Research Director's Advancement Board, as an honorary team captain during the Purdue football team's Hammer Down Cancer game and as the keynote speaker at one of the center's fundraising luncheons.

"Things like the Dance Marathon and the Hammer Down Cancer game are huge because funding is huge and awareness is huge," Tyler said. "Something I've learned is to know your 'why.' I'm communicating my 'why' by advocating for cancer awareness and cancer research."

This strong sense of altruism stemmed from Trent's religious faith.

In fact, Tyler had a tattoo on his ankle that signified his struggle and his faith. It depicted the familiar cancer awareness ribbon flipped on its side to look like an ancient symbol for a Christian, along with personal symbols that mean "God is greater than my highs and lows."