Bryce Upton: Champion for a Cause

The Weekly Sentinel January 24, 2025

By Susan Gallagher, Staff Writer

“Papa made friends wherever he went,” says 17-year-old Noble High School swimming sensation Bryce Upton, reflecting on his late grandfather, Jerrie Upton. It is the elder Upton’s kindness to others that left the most powerful and indelible imprint on his grandson. “He made me want to be kind to everyone,” says Bryce.

The young Upton was the apple of his Papa’s eye, until the grey day in 2020, when the doting grandfather lost his valiant battle with Glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer. His eldest grandson, barely 13 at the time, was devastated. The cruel disease took his grandfather quickly and viciously, eating away at his brain so filled with love and kindness. In a span of just three months, Jerrie went from appearing outwardly normal to being unable to get out of bed. “It happened insanely fast,” Upton recalls sadly.

The heart-wrenching loss left a void in Upton. He threw himself into his swimming, immersing himself in the water he calls his "happy place,” but it wasn’t until Swim Across America (SAA) came to his attention in 2025 that he found the purpose that would fill the void. When his coach, Kathy Leahy, informed him of the upcoming SAA charity swim to benefit cancer research, the young swimmer seized the opportunity to become involved. He realized that his talent in the pool could bring more than personal gratification; it was the perfect way to give meaning to his grandfather’s death and to help others facing the same destructive disease.

Swim Across America originated in 1987 as a follow-up to Jeff Keith’s Run Across America, an inspiring run across the country that started in Boston on June 4, 1984, and ended eight months later in Los Angeles, raising one million dollars for the American Cancer Society. Keith, who tragically lost his right leg to cancer as a teenager, teamed up with childhood friends and recent college graduates Matt Vossler and Hugh Curran to accomplish the impressive feat.

The success of the endeavor fueled the three friends to continue their philanthropic journey, and on August 1, 1987, their first charity swim across Long Island Sound took place. This gave birth to Swim Across America, a grassroots nonprofit hosting charity swims that fund cancer research and patient programs. Proudly celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, the growing organization has to date raised more than one hundred million dollars.

Kathy Leahy, who coaches the combined swim teams of Thornton Academy and Noble High School, registered her teams for a Swim Across America event after Thornton Academy parent John Scully approached her with the idea. Once Leahy learned that SAA had added pool swims to their original harbor swims, she was all in. In a stroke of serendipity, Thornton Academy swimming is marking their own 35th anniversary, paralleling that of SAA. The pool swim presented the perfect opportunity to celebrate these dual milestones.

On Saturday, January 4, the University of New England hosted the swim at their Biddeford pool. The twelve swimming events were an eclectic mix of the usual stroke swims like the 50-yard freestyle, and unusual relays that Upton smilingly refers to as “fun but bizarre.” Swimmers could enter as many events as they chose. While the modest Upton says he “did okay” at the pool swim while fighting fatigue from the previous night’s meet, Coach Leahy reveals that he achieved qualifying times in all the day’s individual events. She lauds the Noble senior as a top swimmer in the state, but she equally praises his character traits. “Bryce is an intelligent leader,” she says. “He makes wise choices.”

The respect is mutual between Upton and his coach. “Kathy is one of the most tenured coaches in Maine, so it’s great to have her experience on deck,” he says. “She has extensive knowledge of the sport, especially the aspects of mindset and focus. She has a mastery of the mental side of swimming.”

The SAA pool swim experience was cathartic and eye-opening for Upton. More important than his personal performance was the sense of camaraderie the event inspired. “I felt more connected with my teammates and learned more about their families than I had in the past two years,” he says. “I felt so much closer to everyone.”

While cancer research is a serious cause, Upton says the charity swim was also a joyful and uplifting celebration of the survivors. “We took time to recognize those who had survived cancer and those who had been lost to it, like my Papa,” he says. “We recognized all of their struggles and their families’ struggles, but we also made sure to celebrate life and the chance of survival.”

Already filled with the satisfaction of contributing to such a worthy cause, Upton was elated when he learned that the money raised was specifically slated for Glioblastoma research. “It made me sad that this research wasn’t available for my Papa,” he says, “but it made me happy to know it would save other people.” By the end of the day, the event had raised sixteen thousand dollars. SAA encourages further donations to bring them to their full goal of twenty-five thousand dollars.

Coach Kathy Leahy is gratified to see these young people involved in charitable endeavors like this. “It shows them the power of what they can accomplish when they work together,” she says. “Raising over sixteen thousand dollars as a team teaches them that combining their individual efforts can bring about great things – even advances in medicine.”

For Bryce Upton, committing to this cause gives him a sense of purpose that is in perfect harmony with the deeply rooted kindness he absorbed from his grandfather. This young swimmer’s caring nature shines a beacon of light on those around him. “I think it is really important to contribute to these charitable organizations to make a better future, both for ourselves and for the next generations,” he says, waxing wise beyond his years. “It also helps build our character and make us more caring and compassionate people. We need to be involved in something bigger than ourselves.”

No doubt, if he were here today, Papa would be proud.