Easter Family Fund

Joel Easter is a selfless person, an amazing father, and an inspiration to many. He has been involved in Bedford wrestling since 1995. Joel has coached hundreds of wrestlers and has reached the hearts and lives of many young men, as many of them consider Joel to be their biggest influence. Trey Easter, Joel’s son, was also coached by his father and sees him as a constant source of support and positivity – equal parts comforting and critical. His dad was his best friend for as long as he can remember.

Joel is currently battling glioblastoma – an aggressive form of brain cancer that is usually fatal.

In 2016, Joel was diagnosed with brain cancer and had surgery to remove a tumor from his brain. He was in remission and made a full recovery. In March of 2021, the Easter family found out that Joel’s cancer returned, and his quality of life slowly started to decline. About three months ago, they found out that treatment was no longer a viable option. They made the decision together, as a family, to stop treatment and have Joel go into hospice care.

This is the most difficult thing Trey’s ever had to experience. Trey loves and respects his father a great deal, and it is hard for him to see Joel in this condition. He said that he would often shoot the breeze with his father, but because of the effects of brain cancer, this has become exceedingly difficult.

However, even if that aspect of their relationship is suffering, Trey believes he is now close to his father but in a different way. He thought back to how his father would take care of him growing up, and now he is in a position where he is taking care of his father. Trey sees this as returning the favor, a wordless ‘thank you’ between father and son.

What Trey wants everyone to know is how important the Bedford wrestling community is to Joel, and how important Joel is to the community. Joel has been involved in this community for 30 years, as long as Trey has been alive, and it’s his passion. The community has helped out Joel in the past, and the Easter family is extremely grateful.

The funds from this donation will help them pay bills and allow them to afford better food options for Joel.