The city of Brandon, Man., has honoured a local curler and sports supporter who was diagnosed earlier this year with a rare and fatal brain disease.

Neil Andrews was diagnosed with classical Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in the fall. On Tuesday, he appeared in a wheelchair at a small ceremony held by family and friends to pay tribute to him and his work in the sports community.

On Monday night, Brandon city council voted to rename Westbran Stadium on 19th Street North after Andrews. Council had decided to rename the stadium now so Andrews could be part of the tribute.

"When we were still able to, we had to drive by there every day and just sit there for a minute, because Neil said that's what helped him to keep living — was just to go sit at Westbran and think all about the good memories and good times he had there," his wife, Heather Andrews, said as she held on to her husband's arm.

Andrews, founder and CEO of Guild Insurance Brokers in Brandon, was a well-known curler in Manitoba, having won the provincial curling title twice and represented the province in the national championships.

As well, Andrews founded the Brandon Marlins baseball team in 1995, leading them to win four Manitoba Senior Baseball League championships between 1999 and 2005.

On top of that, he had been director of the Westbran Stadium — which will be renamed Andrews Field — since it was built in 1993.

Heather Andrews said the stadium was Neil's "pride and joy."
 
"Lots of times when other people would be golfing on the weekends, we'd be there mopping up a flooded change room or something, you know," she said.

"Spent many hours on the field and in the canteen, but anything he always felt worth doing was worth doing right, and he wanted it to be a place where people could be proud to come."

Andrews' friends and family have also launched a fundraising campaign, with a goal of raising $250,000 to pay for improvements and upgrades for the stadium.