Reported by Janelle Jordan
ORLANDO -- It was a magical night Wednesday for Tyler Youtz and his family as the Orlando Magic honored him as part of their Magic Makers program.
It was 9-year-old Tyler who brought down the house at the Magic’s home game Wednesday.
At just 5 years old, he was diagnosed with cancer. After hair loss, radiation and chemotherapy, Tyler battled back, but his story does not stop there.
Tyler made it his mission to bring a sparkle to the lives of other sick children. He started his own program, called Toys from Tyler.
Each year, he gives hundreds of toys to local children for Christmas, and this year, he said he is reaching for the stars.
“The toys have just gotten bigger and bigger and bigger,” Tyler told Bright House Sports Network. “We started off with 11 toys, and now we’re up to 1,000.”
Already off to a great start, Tyler’s family said Mattel and Warner Brothers have chipped in 250 toys so he can reach his goal by Dec. 20.
The toys will go to kids at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
LEARN MORE
» Visit ToysFromTyler.com
» See Toys from Tyler on Facebook
» Read “Tyler vs. the Tumor,” written and illustrated by Tyler! (PDF)

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