Proudfoot funeral packs Que. church

Hundreds of people filled a church in Pointe Claire, Que., Wednesday morning to attend funeral services for former CFL star Tony Proudfoot.

After lining up for blocks, many were forced to watch the ceremonies on video screens in a separate part of Cedar Park United Church, which normally seats a maximum of 250 people.

His family enteredthe suburban church following a bagpiper playing Amazing Grace.

The former Alouettes player died Dec. 30 at age 61 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Proudfoot openly chronicled his battle against the disease in a series of newspaper columns and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for ALS research.

The crowd at Wednesday's funeral included current and former CFL players, including current Montreal Alouette Matthieu Proulx, who said he was inspired by Proudfoot's accomplishments.

"At the end of the day, the football part goes, but the inspiration lives forever."

Larry Smith, an ex-teammate and football executive who is now a Conservative senator, recalled hisfondest memory of Proudfoot.

"It's always going to be the 1977 Grey Cup with the staples, when Tony put the staples in the boots," Smith said of the slippery "Ice Bowl," where Proudfootimprovised to improve traction."The guns went off, all you could hear was, 'tattattattat,' in the locker room. It was an amazing experience."

Some former Dawson College students also attended the funeral. Proudfoot taught physical education at the school for more than 30 years.

The Proudfoot cause

Proudfoot was diagnosed with ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative condition, 3 years ago.

The Tony Proudfoot Fund has raised more than $500,000 for ALS research and forpatients' families.The fund has raised $50,000 since his last column chronicling his struggle was published posthumously on Monday.

Proudfoot played in the CFL from 1971 to 1982, for the Montreal Alouettes and BC Lions. Hewas also a popular sports broadcaster.

He is survived by his wife Vicki and their three children.