At the age of 16, Tyler Robinson’s world was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with an extremely rare and malignant form of cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma. Despite this devastating diagnosis, Tyler’s immense strength and unwavering positivity allowed him to not only fight his disease but also touch the hearts of everyone around him.
Throughout Tyler’s battle with cancer, he found solace in the music from his favourite band, Imagine Dragons. At the time, they had released a single called “It’s Time” that Tyler often used during his treatment. The emotional lyric: “The path to heaven runs through miles of clouded hell.” provided him with the strength he needed to endure his intense regimen of chemotherapy and radiation.
About a year after Tyler’s diagnosis, Imagine Dragons was doing a small performance in Provo, Utah. With the help of his brother Jesse, Tyler was able to bring one of his biggest dreams to life and attend the concert. What Tyler didn’t know at the time, though, was that his brother had contacted Imagine Dragons to tell them how inspirational “It’s Time” had been to Tyler and to express his gratitude to the band.
The band was deeply touched by Tyler’s story, and so, at their show in Provo, they dedicated “It’s Time” to him. As the song was being performed, the crowd held Tyler up on their shoulders and Imagine Dragons’ lead singer, Dan Reynolds, sang the song directly to him. Every single person in the audience was chanting his name in an incredibly moving moment, highlighting the beauty of the human spirit.
After the concert, the members of Imagine Dragons stayed in contact with Tyler and formed a strong friendship with him. Tragically, several months later, Tyler Robinson passed away. This devastating news sparked determination within the Robinson family and the members of Imagine Dragons to ensure that Tyler’s legacy of positivity and courage would continue on for many years to come.
That is why the Tyler Robinson Foundation was created, and since being founded in 2013, it has helped countless families across the US, the UK, Canada and the Czech Republic navigate the financial and psychological challenges of pediatric cancer by providing them with the tools they require to navigate their journeys with fortitude and hope.
Their website is linked below, so I hope that you will check out Tyler’s story in more detail and look at the life-changing work that the Tyler Robinson Foundation is doing.
Recommended reading:
