Community Mourns Loss of Inspirational Teen Tim Vorenkamp

Recent JSerra grad and founder of the nonprofit Live for Others foundation, Tim Vorenkamp died Sunday, succumbing to a rare cancer he battled for years.

He was just 18 years old.

JSerra Catholic High School Headmaster Rich Meyer broke the news to students and parents. “With heavy hearts, we wanted to let you know that Tim Vorenkamp, class of 2015, passed away Sunday night surrounded by his loved ones,” Meyer said via newsletter. “Tim was a very strong student and a good volleyball player; he matriculated to UC Berkeley this past fall but had to return home early due to the progression of his cancer. Tim’s abilities in the classroom and on the court, however, pale in comparison to his qualities as an individual -- mature, friendly, kind, urbane, grounded, and, perhaps most evident, courageous.

Tim started a foundation called Live for Others, http://liveforothersfoundation.com/, that has already raised tens of thousands of dollars for research to treat Synovial Cell Sarcoma. The title alone indicates who Tim was, and it should inspire us to do similarly.”

Tim was diagnosed with Stage 3 Synovial Sarcoma in 2010, forcing him into months of chemotherapy and radiation. He beat the cancer but went on to have four relapses before his death.

Despite spending years fighting for his life, Tim managed to leave a rare legacy for someone so young. With the foundation, he helped raise awareness about the disease and $50,000 to help find a cure. Through his work with the foundation, he was also was able to share with others his gift for optimism.

“Battling cancer, you never lose. And you never will lose even if one day the fight ends,” Tim explained in a video promoting his charity. “When something like that happens, you never lose to it. You just start a new journey, and that is kind of what life is all about. It’s that you find journeys and you find paths that you take to get to that final goal of whatever it is you want in you life. And in my life, that is just to be with the people I love and to enjoy every minute.”

Tim is survived by his younger brother Patrick and his parents, Pieter and Petra.