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DRAPER — Cameron Forte was going to play college football. He was going to serve a mission for the LDS Church in Africa.
Cancer took all of it away.
"It's not easy," the former Corner Canyon linebacker said. "It's definitely hard and it's still kind of surreal."
He's endured intensive surgery for Ewing's sarcoma after doctors found the tumor following surgery to repair a broken femur. They removed his femur and replaced it with a titanium rod. He's been going through months of chemotherapy.
It's a lot to endure — but while cancer can affect his body, it hasn't affected his spirit or his attitude.
"You can't ask why. You can't say why me?" Forte said. "You can't question; you just have to take it and kind of look for the best in things. And I think that's really helped me: staying positive through it all, keeping a good outlook.
"Just knowing where you want to be, how you can help others while doing this. Not being able to go on my mission sucks, but I look at this as my mission and I hope to help as many people as I would have here, as I would have in Africa."
"Losing him was like losing our toughest player," his coach at Corner Canyon said. "He's the strongest guy that has ever set foot in that school."
His fight inspires his former Charger teammates. They've dedicated their season to Cam. His number 31 can be found on their helmets.
His brother Dylan wears his jersey at every game.
"He's always been that hero to me," Dylan Forte said. "I feel like it brings a different emotion to every game. He's just so strong, probably one of the strongest people I've ever met. It makes me have a different mentality and makes me stronger. It makes me play for a purpose."
It's not just the football team that is rallying around its former teammate, students at the school are doing what they can to support. Classmates have organized a 5K race to raise money for bone cancer research, and the cheer and dance squads also hosted a fundraiser for Cameron last spring.
"I think a lot of us know personal stories of cancer, like family members, close friends and Cam, a fellow classmate," Corner Canyon cheerleader Rylee Anderson said. "I think it's just cool that we can help out.
"Everyone loves him and everyone looks up to him and thinks he's the best. We love supporting him and doing the little things for him that makes him happy."
The Fight Bone Cancer 5K supporting Forte and other patients of bone cancer and Ewing's sarcoma will begin Sept. 10 at 8 a.m. at the Draper Equestrian Center. Sign up online here.
