The 5K for First Responders is Saturday, October 26th in York beginning at 10am. The Trooper Black Foundation in York will be donating 50% of this year’s proceeds to Tyler McDermott and his family. They are currently accepting sponsorships in addition to race registrations. Register here.

Tyler McDermott, age 33 born and raised in Wells ME
Joined the WFD call force in 2020 and holds an EMT license as well as firefighter I and II certifications.
Two children Elise age 6 and Hudson age 7 who are his whole world, as well as a wife Nicole of 9 years. They have been together since high school here in Wells, ME.
In February of 2024 after an episode of extreme back and stomach pain Tyler went to the hospital where he was discharged with muscle spasms. Less than 12 hours later he was back in the hospital where a CT scan was preformed and numerous large masses were identified in his abdomen. Things moved very quickly from there and he was fortunate to get in with a gastroenterologist within days and from there an endoscopy biopsy was performed.
The diagnosis was a rare form of cancer, neuroendocrine cancer of the pancreas. This is a very rare cancer that accounts for less than 1% of all cancer diagnosis’s yearly. This is a cancer that effects the neuroendocrine cells within the body.
Over the last six months he has battled through pain, nausea, fatigue, and heart issues due to chemotherapy and all with a smile on his face and the optimism to match.
At his first retagging scans on August 1st, he was told that all tumors have gotten bigger and new ones have grown effecting even more of the lymph nodes in his abdomen.
Less than a week after the scans he started a more aggressive chemotherapy at the Dana Faber facility in Boston. He travels to Boston every three weeks for a three day cycle of chemotherapy. During this time has had the most positive outlook on this situation and has stated he can’t wait to be on the other side of this. While he still is feeling good between cycles he is enjoying spending time with his family and friends, attending football practices with his son, dance classes with his daughter and as much time as he can at the Wells Fire Department doing something that truly makes him happy.