In April of 2005 Tyler Youtz was just 5-years-old when he was diagnosed with Stage Four Neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system. The next year would prove to be one of the most difficult of his young life. Numerous chemotherapy and radiation treatments, eight surgeries and a bone marrow transplant later, Tyler emerged not only as a cancer survivor, but a healthy, fully-recovered, free-spirited Vista Lakes Elementary student.

Today he is getting ready to celebrate his tenth birthday alongside the East Orlando Relay for Life at Timber Creek High School on April 30. The overnight fundraising event is the largest Relay for the American Cancer Society of Metro Orlando and it lasts right up to Tyler’s birthday. “We’re actually going to have a big party at the East Orlando Relay because it falls on his birthday and we couldn’t be more excited,” says Angela Youtz, Tyler’s mother.

The new tagline for the American Cancer Society is creating “A World with More Birthdays” and they’ve done just that by helping the Youtz family, offering education and support when they needed it most. “It definitely makes each birthday extra special,” says Angela.

As the team captain of his school’s Relay for Life team, Tyler, along with his teacher, is leading the fundraising efforts for the elementary school’s team, which will participate in the Lake Nona Relay for Life on April 23.

“He is a true miracle; the type of cancer he had has the lowest cure rate of all childhood cancers,” Angela says. “He’s definitely my hero.”

Relay for Life is a team event that spans 18 hours, beginning at 6:00 p.m. and ending the next morning. Teams raise dollars by hosting everything from car washes to bake sales leading up to the big day. At the event itself, teams set up booths and tents to camp out. Each team member takes turns walking the track throughout the night, making sure one person from each team is always walking to symbolize that those affected by cancer do not get a break, and neither do they.

“Relay For Life is such a special event because it really brings the community together to feel empowered in the fight against cancer,” says April Carpenter, community representative for the American Cancer Society. “The atmosphere is like nothing you have ever seen before and once you’ve experienced it, you’re hooked.”

Article by Corey Gehrold