Warren Football Player Sets $5,000 Goal for Cancer Families

Mike Papouras wants to raise $5,000 for families fighting childhood cancer. The junior cornerback at University School in Warren is leading a fundraiser called "Some Things are Bigger than Football" during the team's playoff game against Howland on Friday night. He is working with the CK Foundation to direct the proceeds to families currently battling the disease.

The effort honors Jack Sawyer, a teenager from Mentor who died of Ewing sarcoma. The connection began on October 20, 2023, during a high school football game in Mentor. Jack, then 17, was named honorary captain of the Mentor High Cardinals. Players from the opposing team, Euclid, presented him with a shirt bearing the fundraiser's name. Mike was 13 at the time. His father served as the superintendent of Euclid City Schools, and the event stayed with him.

Papouras said the experience showed him that many children face hardships far greater than his own. He wrote that he wanted to make the process a little easier for them. Jack passed away shortly after that 2023 game. In the fall, Mike contacted Jack's mother, Dawn, to ask for her permission to continue the tribute. Dawn approved the plan and is scheduled to join Mike on the field for Friday's game.

The Warren team will wear gold laces and decals during the matchup. Gold is the official color for childhood cancer awareness. The event aims to generate funds and awareness for the CK Foundation. Papouras noted that he hopes to support families who are in the fight right now.

Support for Jack's memory extends beyond Warren. Dawn said a Mentor High football player recently told her the Cardinals team will wear yellow socks in his honor during their Friday night game against Euclid. The seniors decided to find a way to remember Jack. Dawn also credited Justin Hodge, a former Mentor student who now plays at Miami University, with helping keep Jack's legacy alive.

Jack left a note for the 2023 game that the announcer read to the crowd. It advised people to remember his motto, PACE, which stands for Positive Attitude Changes Everything. Papouras said he hopes others will hear that motto and carry it with them.

Dawn described the letter from Mike and the upcoming fundraiser as an amazing gesture. She said she is deeply touched and proud that Jack's legacy lives on. She expressed gratitude to the young people for their love and support and to everyone who continues to champion PACE and Jack's memory.