Kyle Cooke is anything but your average teenager. His charm and enthusiasm could be mistaken for a boy-next-door naiveté. His experiences, however, have made him wise beyond his years. All of this combined with his poise and confidence makes him the perfect choice to be the next SSK SpokesKid.

The Washougal, WA resident was diagnosed with osteosarcoma four years ago and lost his right leg to the insidious disease a year later. In 2002 he was invited to attend the California Fun-Time Fantasy trip. “At that point I was no longer taking chemotherapy because it wasn’t working for me. We were playing it by ear, doing monthly bone scans and having surgery if a tumor returned,” he explained. “The trip was great because it let me get away and I had a scan scheduled for when I got back. Not knowing what was going to happen (with the scan) I had no worry at all. I was cancer-free for that week and it was great!! It was a blessing.” On that particular trip Kyle met John Valen of Fleetwood Mac and the two formed a close friendship. “We’ve kept in touch,” he explained and added that John gives him advice about Slightly to the Left, the band he formed with two of his friends. They play original punk/rock alternative music at local gigs and recently recorded a demo CD.

Kyle also attended the 2003 Hawaiian Hang-Loose Holiday this past October as a Senior Sunshine Kid, where he learned to surf (yes, he surfed almost everyday). “Surfing was tough but it was the greatest thing. It was such a rush!! And there were a lot of cool kids on that trip.”

Kyle is looking forward to his 17th birthday in February and getting his driver’s license. “The friendships he’s made on the trips have been great and he’s developed some close relationships and has enjoyed it very much,” his mother Conny said. Kyle is embracing the SpokesKid opportunity with open arms, much like he does everything else. “I think it is so cool,” he said, adding, “I want to give back to the Sunshine Kids some of what they have given me.”