The response for 13 year-old swimmer Chase Smith has been overwhelming. Thousands have shown their support for Chase and the Smith family as they fight through a form of bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma. Chase swims for Indian Creek Aquatics in Indiana and is the son of the team’s head coach, Brad Smith. Cancer is something that no child should ever have to go through.
For those that would like to further support the Smith family, a GoFundMe page has been created to help pay for the families medical expenses. They have a goal of $100,000 dollars. More information about Chase and his family can be found on the GoFundMe page. Click the link above to learn more.
Swimmers from all over the country, from Olympians to summer leaguers, have sent pictures to show their support, using the social media hashtag #ChaseStrong. On Facebook, several Olympic and collegiate swimmers have left videos for Chase as he fight’s through cancer. Cullen Jones, all of SwimMAC, Jason Lezak, Dan Wallace, Elizabeth Beisel, Jessica Hardy, and Kaitlin Sandeno are just a few of the names to mention.
You can find those video’s on the #ChaseStrong Facebook page by clicking here.
Another simple yet inspiring tweet came from Olympian and American Record holder, Eric Shanteau. Shanteau learned, just a week before qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Team, that he had testicular cancer, and chose to put off his treatments until after the Olympic Games. After fighting off the cancer, he managed to qualify for his second Olympic Team in 2012.
— Eric Shanteau (@Shanteau) July 11, 2014
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
Indiana Hoosiers Head Coach Ray Looze with Chase. #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
SwimMAC Head Coach David Marsh #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
Chase Kalisz, Michael Phelps, and Conor Dwyer are #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
Eastern Michigan University is #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
Indiana Swimming LSC Staff. #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
World Champion Mary DeScenza Mohler and her baby are #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
Wyoming #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
Indiana Guard Reserve is #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
World Record Holder Ariana Kukors and the USC Trojans are #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
Muncie Ironman #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
Arizona Wildcats #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
Wildwood Gators Swim Team is #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
FINIS is #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
CT Swimming is #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
Arkansas is #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
#ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)
US National Team Director Frank Busch with Chase. #ChaseStrong (Photo Courtesy of The Smith Family and the #ChaseStrong Facebook Group)