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Brainiac brigade has Alex Trebek's back during cancer battle
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Updated: March 9, 2019 4:09 PM EDT
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Fans around the world are stepping up to support and pray for Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek.
The 78-year-old Sudbury native announced Wednesday in a YouTube video that he was battling Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
The video perfectly encapsulates the unflappable and genial persona of the perennial quiz-show host, say many contestants, who describe him as being just as warm, intelligent and personable behind the scenes as he is on TV.
Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek announces pancreatic cancer diagnosis
Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek recovering from head surgery
But he's got an army of brainiacs who have his back. Former contestants on the hit show are offering their support.
SALLY NEUMANN – 2016
"I spend a lot of time doing grief counselling for kids in an artistic medium, so I suggested everybody mail me (from the secret Jeopardy! Facebook contestants page) their buzzer fingers — their thumbprints in the mail in various colours in ink — and I'm going to cut them up and make it into a collage of the buzzer fingers and send it to him."
She added: "It's like we're buzzing in one last time, giving him a thumbs up, imbuing the piece of art with all of our touch and gratitude."
BEN MERRITT – 2000
"I thought that was just so fitting and so moving and so him (the cancer announcement video). He's very direct, he's going to tell you the situation, 'Here's what I'm going to do and you guys are going to help me.' It's classic Alex."
EMMA BADAME – 2019
"The calmness and the confidence in delivering the message was really, really impressive. I could never do that. I'd be a mess."
SNOWDEN BECKER – 2005
"He is so warm and engaging. He seems so genuine and I think he really likes people and people really like him as a result."
HEATHER COTHRAN – 2007
"At the end when you watch the show, you'll see people standing around there and he does talk to you when you're standing there. I found him very personable and warm. He seems like he would probably do pretty good on the show as a contestant."
Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek with winner Ken Jennings. Former contestants are stepping up to the plate for the ailing Sudbury native.
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