MIDDLEBURY —
Since Northridge Middle School athlete Sam Grewe and his family found out Sam had cancer last fall, the Middlebury community has rallied around Sam and his family, with moral support as well as a number of special fundraisers to help the Grewes with the mounting medical bills and other expenses associated with battling the disease.
Another such event took place Saturday, as Hoosier Taekwando in Middlebury held a “kick-a-thon.”
Owner Nick Nicholas — known in the dojo as “Master Nick” — explained the event. A number of the dojo’s students — both adults and children — gathered Saturday morning to see how many kicks they could accomplish in a 60-second period.
The answer, in total? More than 1,300 kicks, which translated to nearly $1,400. Nicholas presented Sam’s father, Randy, with the money raised Saturday evening.
An emotional Nicholas choked up a bit as he presented the money. “I can’t imagine this happening to my child,” Nicholas said.
Randy Grewe said he and his family are very grateful for the support they have received since Sam’s diagnosis, and intend to start returning the favor soon, using some of the funds raised to set up a foundation to help others with cancer.
Sam, Randy Grewe said, recently had surgery on the affected leg at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Doctors removed the cancerous area of Sam’s leg, and he will need a prosthetic leg going forward.
The Middlebury youngster has gone through seven rounds of chemotherapy in South Bend; another 11 rounds are scheduled between now and August.
But when he gets the prosthetic leg, the active teenager and athlete will be able to resume competing in sports, Randy Grewe said. Sam competes in football, basketball and baseball.
In the meantime, the Grewes — avid Purdue fans — have connected with the Notre Dame football team. The Fighting Irish have “adopted” Sam, even having a formal ceremony to honor him. Sam and his family attended last week’s Blue-Gold spring game at Notre Dame Stadium and got to be a part of the pregame experience as the Irish prepared for their annual end of spring practice.
And this fall, on Sept. 8, when the Irish open the home portion of their schedule, Sam will get to lead the Irish onto the field with head coach Brian Kelly as they prepare to face — wait for it — Purdue.
“We haven’t been the biggest Notre Dame fans, but we’re all in now,” Randy Grewe said with a smile.
For updates on Sam’s condition, visit www.facebook.com/SamGreweUpdates.
Donations for the Grewe family are still being accepted at Sam Grewe Fund, c/o First State Bank Middlebury, 111 S. Main Street, Middlebury, IN 46540.
Sports
Related Photos
-
RANDY GREWE, center, accepts a black belt from Michael Whitney, left, and Nick Nicholas at Hoosier Taekwando in Middlebury on Saturday. David Vantress
Kicks for good cause in Middlebury
Local dojo raises nearly $1,400 for cancer survivor Sam Grewe and family
- Sports
-
-
PREP SOFTBALL: Raiders, Minutemen in 4A final
Considering that all the teams in the Class 4A Warsaw sectional are members of the NLC, except for one, it’s not a great surprise that a pair of league teams will square off for the championship of the high school girls softball sectional.
-
PREP GIRLS TENNIS: Raiders dominate
The suspense at Wednesday’s Northridge Regional girls tennis finals didn’t last very long.
-
NFL: Bears LB Urlacher announces his retirement
Brian Urlacher wasn't sure how dominant he could be any longer, so he's calling it a career after 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears.
-
PREP GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD: On to the state meet
Concord, led by double winner junior Jessica O’Connell, finished fourth in the team standings in the IHSAA girls track and field regional Tuesday night at Warsaw.
-
PREP GIRLS TENNIS: Raiders dispatch Goshen, on to finals
While Goshen made it interesting, Northridge prevailed Tuesday with its experience and consistent play.
-
CLASS 3A PREP SOFTBALL SECTIONAL: Falcons slug way into 3A title game
The only thing that could slow the Fairfield softball team down Tuesday night was the weather.
-
PREP SOFTBALL WEB EXTRA: Falcons advance with shutout; Panthers bow out
Fairfield sophomore pitcher Danica Mast knows what it’s all about at sectional time.
-
PREP SOFTBALL WEB EXTRA: Goshen falls, Raiders advance in Class 4A sectional
Elkhart Central and Northridge both won their games Monday night in the Class 4A high school girls softball sectional at Warsaw.
-
COLLEGE CONNECTIONS: Area athletes garner postseason recognition
GOSHEN — The Bethel Pilots edged Indiana University-Southeast, 1-0, in the elimination game of the NAIA National Championship in Cleveland, Tennessee. The recent Crossroads League Pitcher of the Year sophomore Natalie Newell (Goshen) hurled a no-hitter for the first-ever no-hitter by Bethel in the NAIA National Tournament.
-
Pacers, Heat again
MIAMI — A year ago when Miami and Indiana faced off in the postseason, there were blood-drawing hits, flagrant fouls, technical fouls, choke signs being directed toward LeBron James and more than a few sharp-tongued comments.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
