Each year over young swimmers from summer swim programs within the Community Swim Association of Greensboro, as well as additional teams from High Point gather at their pools to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Swim for Cancer campaign. Each year over 2,000 young swimmers from summer swim programs within the Community Swim Association of Greensboro, as well as additional teams from Hi
gh Point gather at their pools to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Swim for Cancer campaign. Swim For Cancer is the largest fund-raising swimming event in the country and the American Cancer Society’s longest running fundraiser of any kind! Over the years the fundraising effort has raised over an estimated four million dollars in the fight against cancer. The community has been very generous and swimmers, coaches, and parent volunteers have worked very hard over the years to keep the program alive and growing. And while the kids are always willing to swim their laps for the cause, many may not know the story behind CSA’s Swim for Cancer program. Bob Sawyer was a long-time swimming coach at Grimsley High School and the Greensboro Swimming Association (GSA). Sawyer coached a boy by the name of John Dewey as an age group swimmer and later at Grimsley High School. When he was in the ninth grade, John was diagnosed with cancer. A cancerous mole had appeared on his arm and radical surgery was required. John made “a courageous and dramatic” comeback from surgery, according to Coach Sawyer, and was able to resume swimming his sophomore year at Grimsley. It appeared that his recovery was complete when he battled back, not only to compete, but to win the North Carolina state championship in the 100 freestyle his junior year.
“Going into his senior year,” Coach Sawyer remembered, “it looked like he was headed for a good season but in December his times started falling back. The cancer had returned and he wasn’t able to finish his senior season.” Despite the setback, John Dewey continued to help the team, even when he couldn’t attend meets. “John was such a brilliant kid. Even though he couldn’t swim, he took a lead role on our team. He helped me place entries for the state meet. He knew all the swimmers on the other teams, what events he thought they would swim, and could even estimate their times. John Dewey had a very key role in where we placed our entries... I’ll never forget that satisfaction, that feeling of peace and the pride that he felt when I stopped by his house and told him that we had successfully defended our state championship.”
John Dewey was such an inspiration and such a great student that Don Easterling, the coach at NC State offered him a full scholarship knowing that he would never be able to swim at the college level. To illustrate what a tough and dedicated kid he was, Coach Sawyer noted that John had to get a sick slip to go home on a Friday during the spring of his senior year. He died the following day. Bob Sawyer established Swim for Cancer as a lasting tribute to John Dewey and each summer Greensboro swimmers continue to honor his memory by participating in this worthwhile program.
