An outgoing and fun-loving Garrett Light likes to swing a 3-iron, fish a peaceful stream, discover a beach and cruise in the trusty 4-by-4 Mazda pickup truck he inherited from his grandfather.

He enjoys family, friends and each day as it comes.

The Auburn Mountainview High School junior looks forward to a bright future. He intends to graduate with his class and head off to a state college, perhaps pursue a rewarding career as an educator and counselor.

A captain on his school’s varsity golf team, Light carries an 8-handicap.

He has rededicated his life to God. He is a Young Life Christian group leader.

Garrett is strong, resilient, compassionate and introspective, qualities he remarkably maintains in the throes of battling cancer, an insidious disease that has jolted his Auburn family for far too long.

Cancer not only has affected some extended family members, it has also hit extremely close to the Light home.

Colorectal cancer claimed Light’s father eight years ago at the age of 44. Gary Light was an inspirational man, a devoted husband, a caring dad, and an award-winning restaurant manager who hired and worked with the disabled.

“He taught me how to play basketball. … I always remember the times when he would give me and my sisters piggyback rides to bed,” Garrett recalled fondly. “He was a great guy who lived for family and was dedicated to work.”

And now, Garrett is waging his own war with a rare form of bone cancer – Ewing’s sarcoma. On March 1, doctors found a malignant, round-cell tumor in his right tibia. On June 2 he will undergo surgery to remove the tumor. Twelve weeks of chemotherapy will precede the operation, 18 more weeks of treatment follow it, along with frequent testing and, when necessary, blood transfusions.

Bone grafting and a total knee replacement are possibilities.

Garrett’s perpetual, painful plight saps his strength and stamina but his desire and hopes for a healthy life are undimmed. The prognosis is good, the recovery long.

“I do get to keep my leg,” he said. “I’m doing well … no big complications.

“There are times when I’m scared, but I’m optimistic that there’s going to be life after cancer for me and that I’m able to move on in the world,” he added. “God is taking good care of me so far, and there are a lot of people out there supporting me.”

That support comes in many forms, expressed openly by family, friends and classmates. Such support is especially telling this time of year.

In May, the Light family focuses on an important and emotional event – the American Cancer Society Relay for Life at Auburn Memorial Field. Hundreds of supporters and cancer survivors come out to walk the track, display luminaries, hold tributes and remember those who courageously lost their fight to the disease.

The Light family will be participating in the relay for the eighth year, a personal pilgrimage in memory of their late father, who died shortly after the relay, and in support of Garrett.

The relay begins at 6 p.m. today and stretches until noon Saturday.

“It gets to be pretty sad for us,” Robin Light, Garrett’s mother, said of the relay. “When we started, it was to honor (Gary), and it just continued. It’s sort of like an anniversary for us.”

Robin, a seventh-grade teacher at Rainier Middle School, will join her colleagues as a relay team leader. Garrett will join his friends and classmates as a captain of another team. Auburn Mountainview staff will field a team of its own.

The family relay is a tradition. Garrett’s sisters, Megan and Lindsy, each took turns serving as team captains before graduating from high school. The honor to lead the youth team has been passed on to Garrett.

What began as the “Kids Who Love Gary” team is now the “Get Well Garrett” squad.

“It’s very important to us,” Garrett said of the event.

Family and friends have helped raise awareness and support in other ways. Garrett’s team has been selling “Get Well Garrett” bracelets to raise money. Robin and friends recently raised money with a bowling tournament.

Throughout it all, Robin’s son has kept in good spirits.

“He’s been doing absolutely wonderful,” Robin said. “He’s very strong. He has a lot of faith.”

A dedicated Garrett vows to garner enough strength to attend the relay. He might have to undergo a blood transfusion early today, but hopes to make the opening ceremonies and join the walk tonight. He wants very much to avoid being at Seattle Children’s Hospital on his 18th birthday Saturday.

For Garrett, it is a meaningful weekend. Spending and sharing it with others – in memory of his father and in honor of other cancer victims – makes it even more special.

“It’s always been one of the most important days of my life,” Garrett said. “With me having cancer, it makes it that much more important. It makes me want to fight even harder.

“I’m able to come home after treatments now, but I continue to see the suffering kids (at the hospital),” he continued. “It just makes me want to fight so much more for them.”