Sue Jurgens is a breast cancer survivor who started swimming with Todd Jackson five years ago to improve the flexibility in her chest following a mastectomy.

On Saturday, she swam laps to raise money for Jackson, who is now battling throat cancer.

Jurgens was one of more than 100 swimmers, volunteers and donors who are doing their part to help Jackson pay his mounting medical bills.

Swimmers for the two-day Swim-A-Thon ranged in age from 8 to 80. The Masters swim team from South Division took donations and swam laps as a team, while some novice swimmers just did a few laps. Jurgens gracefully swam strong and controlled for "Coach Jackson."

"This is the least I could do," she told me in between laps at the Schroeder Aquatic Center in Brown Deer. "He's such a nice guy."

Jurgens did not pick up swimming until about five years ago. She was a long distance runner, but when she started swimming, it was Jackson who taught her how to do a flip turn and improve her overall technique and time.

"He was great for me," she said. "It's been a wonderful relationship."

Jackson has taught thousands of people, young and old, how to swim. He also taught water safety.

He even took time to help teach me how to swim several years ago. I'd had a fear of the water after I almost drowned at Wisconsin Dells as a kid. Jackson is the best teacher I've ever had because he understood my fear and helped me to conquer it.

Most of the swimmers I talked with Saturday said Jackson is more than a coach. He is a friend. And when a friend is in need of help, you help out. When it snowed, swimmers went to his house and cleared his driveway. They deliver water and gift baskets to his house, and they also keep swimming for their coach.

Jackson, 50, was diagnosed with throat cancer in early February after he went to the doctor because he was gradually losing his voice and he was having trouble breathing. After a biopsy, it was determined that he had an aggressive form of laryngeal cancer, which was unexpected because Jackson does not smoke. Doctors performed surgery to remove tumors on his vocal cords that were blocking his airway. Surgery was followed by radiation and chemotherapy treatments. His medical bills are approaching $200,000.

Jackson was in the process of switching jobs, and he didn't have health insurance, said his longtime friend Eric Jernberg, who helped organize the event.

Cancer doesn't wait. While it was great to see the swim community rally around Jackson, fundraisers should not be life preservers for hardworking people drowning in medical bills. It's no secret that health care costs are spiraling out of control; Jackson should not go broke because he was stricken with cancer.

A new study by the Commonwealth Fund's Biennial Health Insurance discovered that health care costs are so high that most Americans just skip the medical care because they can't afford it. According to the study, 80 million people, or 43% of working age adults, didn't go to the doctor or access other medical services in 2012 because of the costs. That number is up from 75 million people two years ago and 63 million in 2003.

The report also said that 28% of those with good insurance also elected to forgo treatment because of the price, and nearly 30% said they did not visit a doctor or clinic when they had medical problems because they could not afford treatment or co-pays.

But forgoing visits can lead to greater health problems down the road.

Fortunately for Jackson, he did go to the doctor at the urging of his wife. He could not attend last weekend's event because his last radiation treatment wiped him out, said his father, Donald Jackson, who swam for his son Saturday.

The long-term prognosis for Todd Jackson is good, but the last series of radiation and chemotherapy treatments have taken its toll on him, Donald Jackson said.

"If you know my son, he doesn't look the same because of the type of treatment he is going through. But the people at St. Luke's have been good to him," Jackson said. "He's going to beat this because he's a Jackson."

Every swimmer I talked with Saturday was confident that Coach Todd would defeat cancer because he has the love, prayers and support of the entire swimming community.

Jurgens even said that swimming may be the one thing that brings Jackson back to health.

For her, swimming was the only exercise that increased her flexibility and helped her through the pain after her surgery.

"Physically, it's a great workout, and it doesn't put too much stress on your body. When you go through a radical surgery like mine you are very, very tight. Swimming really helped me," she said.

While swimming helped to bring many together for a common cause last weekend, the swimmers are now counting down the days until they will see their beloved coach in the water again.

To help defray the costs of Todd Jackson's medical costs, make checks payable to the Milwaukee Piranhas. Mail to 4211 S. 22nd St., Milwaukee WI 53221.

James E. Causey is a Journal Sentinel editorial writer, columnist and blogger. Email jcausey@jrn.com. Twitter: jecausey.