Southern Door junior Griffin Slezewski never realized how much he loved to run until he stopped being able to walk. Slezewski was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia back in January, which was when he was already battling wrestlers on the mat to make a second straight trip to Madison.  What followed was six months of treatments at a Green Bay hospital where only family was allowed to see him as he fought the disease head on, walking 250 miles in the progress. Slezewski was happy to get back to normal when he returned to school slowly got back into the routine of the cross country season.

When Slezewski had his first competition since late January at the Chilton Invitational, his father Kevin admits it was emotional.

Slezewski’s mother Tracy says it was amazing to see the reaction of other athletes and their families see their son return to action.

His brother Ben is a senior cross country runner on the varsity team. He says it was great to have a familiar sight at practice.

 

Slezewski hopes to finish the cross country season on a high note and get ready for the upcoming wrestling season. After Slezewski's diagnosis, community members donated over $12,000 to help defray the costs of treatments along with other signs of support, something the family will not soon forget. The Southern Door cross country teams head to Reedsville Thursday afternoon for an invitational at 4 p.m.

 

 

 

Picture courtesy of Kevin Slezewski