Football legends visit Gainesville for good cause

More than 30 years ago, Gerry Bertier of the Titans football team made history. Now his teammates, family and friends are doing the same by supporting spinal cord injury research.

Bertier, the middle linebacker portrayed in the movie "Remember the Titans," was the center of the story of T.C. Williams High School's emotional drive to an undefeated season and the 1971 Virginia state football title. A car accident later left him paralyzed.

Bertier went on to win gold medals in the Wheelchair Olympics and was instrumental in helping those in wheelchairs gain easier access via curb ramps, wider store entrances, etc.

Ten years after his paralysis, Bertier was killed by a drunk driver.

Now, the Gerry Bertier #42 Foundation for Spinal Cord Injury Research carries on Bertier's name and spirit by raising money for Virginia Commonwealth University's Spinal Cord Injury Research and Rehabilitation Center.

On Aug. 29, in conjunction with Uno's Chicago Bar and Grille, the foundation will hold a "Dough Raiser" fundraiser at the Gainesville store in Virginia Gateway. And two of the original Titans will be there.

Kerry Lundin, former Titan and Foundation supporter said, "It's a great event, and it keeps growing year by year."

Lundin has committed himself to the foundation not only because of the cause, but because of his respect for Bertier. "He was just a great human being," Lundin said of his deceased friend and teammate.

Since he had married and was serving in the military, Lundin didn't hear about Bertier's death until after it happened. He said he found out from one of his teammates. "It was one of saddest days of my life," he said. Bertier "was always the strength of the team."

When "Remember the Titans" came out in 2000, it brought some players back together. But the movie, Lundin said, didn't really reflect the team dynamics or Bertier's later accomplishments.

While the film highlighted racial tensions, Lundin said the only tension between team members was athletic competition. Since three high schools had been combined at T.C. Williams to comply with a desegregation order, competition to play on any team was naturally stiff. Lundin said most of the racial conflicts were between the city and school administration, not between players.

"Everything was diverse if you were an athlete," he said. "You didn't judge anyone by color, and you had competitive spirit because you wanted to play the game.

"Coach [Herman] Boone was a perfect orchestrator. He kept us so busy with worrying about him and how we performed on the field, we didn't have time for racial tension."

After graduation, Lundin lived for a short time with Bertier, who by then, was paralyzed. "Gerry was always happy," he recalled. "He never did the 'What if?' thing, never felt sorry for himself."

Former Titan Blue Stanton also relayed how Bertier brought the Titans together and still keeps them together through the foundation.

Like Lundin, Stanton said it was competition, not racial division, that mattered. But he also said players took on understudies, which added to the team's unity. Bertier played an important part in creating that unity.

"Gerry and I were good friends," he recalled. "He was a team leader … he wasn't a rah-rah person ... he lead by example."

Mac Church has worked as director of marketing and events for the foundation since its inception four years ago. According to Church, the foundation has donated $57,000 to the Physical Medicine and Rehab Center at VCU, and the college matches dollar for dollar. With this money, the college has purchased advanced medical technology that has helped patients recover faster. "We are actually getting to see the money at work," Church said.

Foundation executive director Buck Sutton said the organization's mission has been the same since the beginning: to honor the wish of Bertier's mother, Gene, to keep Bertier's memory alive.

Gene, who passed away in January, launched the foundation.

"She was concerned after Gerry's death that people only knew him up to the point of the movie," Sutton said. "People didn't realize what he did 10 years after, including winning medals in the wheelchair Olympics and pushing for people with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities to have better lives."

Sutton, who is married to Bertier's cousin Cheryl, said the foundation is made up of about 45 volunteers who are family, friends and who he calls "adopted family members."

"I've always believed there are three ways to get siblings: adoption, birth or one of the more profound ways -- through shared experience. We've all become brothers and sisters through shared experiences through working with this common goal."

Sutton said the board and some team members visit VCU about twice a year to see firsthand how their efforts are helping -- which makes Macon Sizemore, director of the Physical Medicine and Rehab Center at VCU, very happy.

"The foundation and players have energized our staff and our patients," Sizemore said.

"The Bertier Foundation thinks we're the greatest rock stars in the world, and we think the same of them. They are wonderful about honoring the memory of Gene and Gerry Bertier."

The center treats about 70 spinal cord injuries per year. Sizemore said 80 percent of spinal cord patients are male.

Last summer, an injured former University of Richmond football player had the opportunity to meet some of the original Titans. Sizemore said it meant a lot to the player to know the Titans and foundation were raising money for research. The player could see there was hope and could relate to what Sizemore called "the shadow of Gerry 30 years later." Sizemore said the patient has since completed treatment, finished college and returned to the community.

The Rehab Center was recognized in July as the 20th best rehab center in country, and Sizemore thanks the foundation for helping them achieve that status.

When the team and foundation members come to Uno's, Stanton said they will talk to guests, give autographs, meet and greet and offer opportunities for photos. Some memorabilia will also be available.

"We would like to see as many people as we possibly can come out and have a good time, Stanton said.

Certainly, Bertier would like that, too.