June 3, 2006

MIDDLETOWN: Thykidz relay team to support fellow cancer survivors

By Meghan Crosby 

Although it was pouring rain Friday morning as they set up for Middletown’s annual Relay for Life, the sunshine finally came out for the three Edgewood High School survivors and their supporters.

Bryce Tucker, Lauren Thorman and Amber McIntosh— three Edgewood teenagers living with a rare thyroid cancer — were just three of hundreds of area residents who came out Friday to celebrate life and fight back against cancer.

Each year, only 350 youth are diagnosed with thyroid cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. So when the teens found each other in Trenton, they and their parents instantly bonded for support and created Thykidz.com — a Web site on thyroid cancer.

Friday, as the Thykidz team prepared for the Relay for Life, they said had a lot to be thankful for.

“I’m speechless,” said Lauren’s mother Stephanie Carper. “Seeing everyone come together and all the kids supporting them is awesome.”

Recent thyroid tests showed good news for Lauren, who has endured three surgeries since diagnosed in 2004.

Amber will graduate from Edgewood High next week and also has been in good health. She plans to begin college at Findlay University this fall as a nuclear medicine major.

“It feels great here because everyone is here to support,” said Bryce Tucker’s mom, Debbie Tucker.

But she said for her, the joy would be short-lived as Bryce faces another surgery in four weeks.

With 50 team members, Thykidz has raised more then $3,000 and is the largest team participating in this year’s relay.

Lauren alone raised $800 and is among Middletown’s top fundraisers.

This year’s Relay for Life of Middletown — which raised more than $13,000 in donations — kicked off Friday evening and runs through noon today.

The annual overnight event, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, is designed to celebrate survivorship and help those touched by cancer fight the disease.

During the event, teams of people take turns walking or running laps around the track with each team keeping at least one member on the track at all times.

Donations to the relay support American Cancer Society research, education and patient service programs.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2813 or mcrosby@coxohio.com.