Jump to full article: The Missoulian, 2008-03-04
Author: BILL SCHWANKE of the Missoulian
Intro: They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
When it comes to Gruen Von Behrens' message about the dangers of using spit tobacco, that might be understating it.
A spit tobacco user since he was 13, Von Behrens - diagnosed with oral cancer about four years later - shows the obvious results of 34 surgeries that have resulted in the removal of his lower teeth and jawbone, the loss of half of his tongue and neck muscles, and the replacement five years ago of his entire lower jawbone.
Following an appearance on a nationwide MTV broadcast, Von Behrens started getting phone calls asking him to make appearances. He says his "life's been a whirlwind ever since." . . .
His Montana tour started last Monday in Plentywood and wrapped up Friday in Darby, Corvallis and Florence. In between were stops in Wolf Point, Malta, Havre, Shelby, Sunburst, Browning, Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Whitefish.
His message to the students at Florence-Carlton High School was about the dangers of tobacco, but he also touched heavily on relationships - how people, especially young people, tend to treat people who act or look different.
Now 30, Von Behrens told students how spit tobacco - a product often associated with professional baseball players and other athletes - wrenched the prospect of a promising baseball career away from him.
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