Denver residents Sarah Thomas and Garrett Rymer are at two opposite spectrums when it comes to their swimming. Sarah Thomas is an ultra marathon swimmer and world record holder who has swam the English Channel, Lake Champlain, the North Channel, Lake Tahoe and Lake Mead, among other marathon length swims. Garret Rymer is a 17-year-old amateur swimmer who just started swimming a few years ago.
Both however are joined together through a common goal of making waves to fight cancer as they are both cancer survivors. Sarah and Garrett will be joining hundreds of other swimmers at the seventh annual Swim Across America – Denver open water swim on Saturday, August 17. The swim raises crucial cancer research funds for Swim Across America’s local beneficiary Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Sarah has supported Swim Across America since 2018, when the inaugural Swim Across America – Denver swim was held in her home community. As a breast cancer survivor, she knows how important it is to raise money for cancer research and bring hope and new treatment options to others.
“I was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in 2017 at the age of 35,” said Sarah. “It was a terrifying time and we didn’t know how much my treatments would impact my ability to swim in the future. Being able to partner with Swim Across America combines two of my passions: open water swimming and doing everything I can to fight cancer so that others won’t have to go through what I went through.”
A year after completing treatments, she did the impossible – becoming the first person to complete a four-way crossing of the English Channel. Though Sarah holds many records in open water swimming, in her words, she doesn’t swim to “be the first.” She swims large bodies of water because she loves seeing the beauty in each corner of the world.
“Cancer treatments tested me in a way I never thought possible,” noted Sarah. ”Despite undergoing chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy, I never gave up on my dream of doing a swim that most people thought was impossible.”
Last summer, Sarah did it again, becoming the first person to successfully swim the entire length of Lake Mead – 47.5 miles. “After my first visit to the Hoover Dam in 2021, I knew I had to swim across Lake Mead,” said Sarah. Through that swim, Sarah raised close to $10,000 for crucial cancer research.
In 2022, then 15-year-old Garrett Rymer was in a minor bicycle accident that shockingly led to a diagnosis of a rare form of spinal cord cancer. Despite such a life-changing event, Garrett joined Swim Across America – Denver last year for the first time. As an official Children’s Hospital Colorado Swim Across America patient ambassador, this will be Garrett’s second year swimming to make waves to fight cancer with Swim Across America – Denver.
“On December 23, 2022, I was diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cord cancer,” said Garrett Rymer. “Leading up to the diagnosis, I had been involved in a minor bike accident in which I broke my right arm. Though the bone healed quickly, the atrophy from not using my arm progressed for months, despite ongoing physical therapy. Confused by the unchanging weakness, my doctors put me through a series of medical tests, culminating in the MRI at the Children’s Hospital Colorado that led to my diagnosis.”
As part of Garrett’s recovery from surgery and treatment, he started swimming. “Garrett has not let his diagnosis hinder his spirit. After undergoing surgery to remove 50 percent of the tumor on his spinal cord, and spending three weeks recovering in the Children’s Hospital rehabilitation center, Garrett was back on his feet and even went climbing the same day he was discharged,” noted Garrett’s dad Andrew Rymer.
“A few weeks after my surgery, I met with a neuro-oncologist to discuss the treatment plan for what remained of my cancer,” noted Garrett. “It was recommended that I participate in a clinical trial with an emerging type of chemotherapy that replaced weekly infusions with a twice-daily pill. The side-effects were less severe than those of conventional chemo, and I was blessed to be able to keep my hair and live my life relatively unhindered by my treatment.”
“Now, two and half years after his cancer diagnosis, we are extremely grateful for Garrett’s progress and prognosis,” noted his father Andrew Rymer. “We are also acutely aware of the importance of pediatric cancer research made possible by Swim Across America’s contributors. Garrett continues to receive quarterly evaluations at Children’s Hospital in Denver with favorable results; his cancerous tumor and kyphosis (spinal curve) remain stable and unchanged since completion of chemotherapy. He also continues to see improvement in his right arm strength following a nerve transfer operation at the Mayo Clinic last year. Garrett’s neuro-oncologist (who is mindful not to convey false hopes) stated that he’d be surprised if this cancer returned. You can imagine just how encouraged and hopeful we are!!”
Andrew also remarked, “We’re equally grateful for Garrett’s high spirits and his unfailing interest in, well just about everything… faith, friends, camping, academics, 4-wheeling, and community service. Garrett finished his junior year at Cherry Creek High School with astounding results, and he has a very ambitious academic outlook for his senior year and beyond. His summer plans are filled with fun and ambitious endeavors— overlanding (formerly known as 4 wheeling), training with the Arapahoe Search and Rescue Patrol, and EMT training, to name a few. We are deeply inspired by Garrett’s commitment to helping others affected by cancer. Garrett continues to serve as a Patient Ambassador for Swim Across America, Make A Wish Foundation, and Shining Stars.”
Garret will be swimming 2-miles this year at the August 17th Swim Across America – Denver swim and will be joined by his father Andrew and his girlfriend, who is also a pediatric cancer survivor.
“We are really excited about this year’s Swim Across America – Denver open water swim and being able to honor and cheer on cancer survivors like Sarah and Garrett. They are the reason why we swim,” said Nicole Vanderpoel, co-event director for Swim Across America – Denver.
To date, the Denver swim has raised $1 million and supports three research projects at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital Colorado. “We are really proud of this work,” said Nicole. “And the fact that money raised locally stays local with our support of Children’s Hospital Colorado.”
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