Football player beats cancer, earns scholarships

Photo By Cpl. David Flynn | Many football players log long hours in the gym and on the field in an effort to hone their craft. Some overcome tough circumstances involving family or their environment. Few, however, can say they beat one of the toughest opponents of all – cancer. With over 20 full-ride scholarship offers from different universities across the country, Greg Garmon knows what it means to be a fighter. Garmon, an Erie, Pa., native, learned that tenacity early on when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma of the bone in the seventh grade. After six months of chemotherapy, radiation and therapy, Garmon was able to beat the cancer into remission and has continued to rise as a top football athlete with exceptional speed. “At one point in your life you think that you may never play sports again,” said Garmon. “Then at another time in your life you are getting all these scholarship offers and they are demanding your talent. It’s crazy.” Garmon’s family drove from Erie to watch him play in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, miles away from home and reflective of a journey the young man took as a seventh-grader with cancer to a college-level athlete competing for glory on the gridiron. “Just stay strong because God always has a plan for you. Stay focused and everything will fall in place,” said the cancer survivor. Watch Garmon play during the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl Jan. 3 live on CBS Sports from 4 to 7 p.m. MST.  

PHOENIX, ARIZONA, UNITED STATES

12.31.2011

Story by Sgt. Bryan McDonnell 

Marine Corps Recruiting Command           

Many football players log long hours in the gym and on the field in an effort to hone their craft. Some overcome tough circumstances involving family or their environment. Few, however, can say they beat one of the toughest opponents of all – cancer.

PHOENIX, Ariz. - With over 20 full-ride scholarship offers from different universities across the country, Greg Garmon knows what it means to be a fighter. Garmon, an Erie, Pa., native, learned that tenacity early on when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma of the bone in the seventh grade.

After six months of chemotherapy, radiation and therapy, Garmon was able to beat the cancer into remission and has continued to rise as a top football athlete with exceptional speed.

“At one point in your life you think that you may never play sports again,” said Garmon. “Then at another time in your life you are getting all these scholarship offers and they are demanding your talent. It’s crazy.”

Garmon’s family drove from Erie to watch him play in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, miles away from home and reflective of a journey the young man took as a seventh-grader with cancer to a college-level athlete competing for glory on the gridiron.

“Just stay strong because God always has a plan for you. Stay focused and everything will fall in place,” said the cancer survivor.

Watch Garmon play during the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl Jan. 3 live on CBS Sports from 4 to 7 p.m. MST.

• Date Taken: 12.31.2011
• Date Posted: 12.31.2011 22:19
• Story ID: 81946
• Location: PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US