Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Earlier this month, one man didn’t just go for a swim; he made a big splash with the challenging marathon he undertook.
62-year-old Jim Dreyer lugged 250 cannonballs — each one representing the nation’s 250th anniversary.
And he went the distance, swimming 22 miles.
That’s not just a random number. It draws attention to the number of veterans who die by suicide each day.
Recognizing those who served is especially important to Dreyer — one of those cannonballs he was carrying represents his father, who’s a World War Two veteran.
And this isn’t his first day on the lake.
We talked with him when he led a team of 68 swimmers from Lake Superior to Detroit to commemorate the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
And one year later, he’s back on Local 4 Live to talk about the 22-mile journey and his message behind it.
Welcome to the official YouTube channel of WDIV Local 4 News in Detroit!
Expect more coverage of Southeast Michigan and surrounding communities with breaking news, weather, original reporting, investigations, and local sports.
We’re proud to be part of the Metro Detroit community.
Watch more from Local 4 on YouTube: youtube.com/@ClickOnDetroitLocal4WDIV/videos
📰 More news stories: clickondetroit.com
▶️ Watch Local 4 News live: clickondetroit.com/live
📩 Sign up for Local 4 newsletters: clickondetroit.com/account/newsletters
Earlier this month, one man didn’t just go for a swim; he made a big splash with the challenging marathon he undertook.
62-year-old Jim Dreyer lugged 250 cannonballs — each one representing the nation’s 250th anniversary.
And he went the distance, swimming 22 miles.
That’s not just a random number. It draws attention to the number of veterans who die by suicide each day.
Recognizing those who served is especially important to Dreyer — one of those cannonballs he was carrying represents his father, who’s a World War Two veteran.
And this isn’t his first day on the lake.
We talked with him when he led a team of 68 swimmers from Lake Superior to Detroit to commemorate the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
And one year later, he’s back on Local 4 Live to talk about the 22-mile journey and his message behind it.
Welcome to the official YouTube channel of WDIV Local 4 News in Detroit!
Expect more coverage of Southeast Michigan and surrounding communities with breaking news, weather, original reporting, investigations, and local sports.
We’re proud to be part of the Metro Detroit community.
Watch more from Local 4 on YouTube: youtube.com/@ClickOnDetroitLocal4WDIV/videos
📰 More news stories: clickondetroit.com
▶️ Watch Local 4 News live: clickondetroit.com/live
📩 Sign up for Local 4 newsletters: clickondetroit.com/account/newsletters
