Kyle Cruce

Kyle Cruce, a May 2020 University of North Georgia (UNG) graduate with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology, made the decision a long time ago to cherish his life. "I had leukemia when I was a child," he said. "It's made me a better person. It has really given me the mindset that any day could be my last."

Cruce was diagnosed at age 4, just five days after his birthday. With continuous support from family and friends, he fought hard against the cancer that affects the bone marrow. After a year and a half of complications, Cruce was deemed cancer-free.

However, the battle was not over.

"I relapsed after I was deemed cancer-free," he said. "Because I relapsed so quickly, I had to have a bone marrow transplant. So, I had the transplant on Sept. 7, 2004, and was deemed cancer-free again."

Cruce has been cancer-free ever since, and that experience molded him into the person he is today.

Originally from Winder, Georgia, Cruce decided to attend the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, after high school. But he decided two years later to transfer to UNG.

At UNG, Cruce was determined to flourish. He served as president of his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi.

"I never saw myself being in an executive position," he said. "At Southern Mississippi, I wasn't involved on the executive board in my pledge class. So, I think my fraternity brothers have really helped me develop my leadership skills."

The development of his leadership skills was beneficial for his responsibilities outside of school. He worked as a staff member at Camp Twin Lakes based in Rutledge, Georgia. Camp Twin Lakes provides year-round, fully accessible and intentionally designed camp programs for children with serious illnesses, disabilities and other life challenges. It teaches campers to overcome obstacles while creating shared experiences with other children who face similar challenges.

Cruce's relationship with Camp Twin Lakes began when he was diagnosed with leukemia. Within Camp Twin Lakes, a sub-camp called Camp Sunshine was created for children ages 7 to 18. Cruce has attended the camp every summer since he was 7. When he was 17, he realized his desire to be a camp counselor.

"We have different activities every day and night and it's a place where kids with illness, especially those with more serious cases, can come and not worry about being looked at differently or having to talk about their health," he said. "It's really like a family. They can just come and be with their family."

Cruce works as an outdoor adventure staff member.

"I facilitate activities such as a ropes course and the giant swing," he said. "We also have a pamper pole, which is where you basically climb up a 30- to 40-foot pole and jump off and try to catch the trapeze."

The transition from camper to counselor has led Cruce to see things from an entirely new perspective.

"When you're a camper you pretty much just hang out with your cabin the whole time, so you didn't get to interact with any other campers," he said. "But now, I get to interact with every single camper there."

He hopes to leave a positive, lasting impression on the campers. His battle against cancer and his newfound leadership position with his fraternity coupled with his cherished connection with Camp Twin Lakes encourages him to be a better person.