Support for Ty Sander
This past spring, Moravian University offensive coordinator Mike Kane visited Chris Walkowiak — Palmerton’s head football coach — on a typical recruiting trip.
During the visit, the Greyhound mentor filled in Walkowiak about one of his former players — Ty Sander.
The former Blue Bomber saw some playing time as a freshman at Moravian, and after a productive spring, was expected to contribute more in 2025.
Because of that, Walkowiak couldn’t have expected the news that came days after their get-together.
Then again, no one could be prepared for what he was about to hear.
Sander had been diagnosed with leukemia.
“He was ... feeling tired and things weren’t normal, and just going to the doctor and getting a regular blood test they found things out,” said Walkowiak. “It was definitely a gut punch to get news like that because I was in contact with him and his family during football season. And he had a successful freshman year at Moravian.
“During the spring I get visitors often and the Moravian coach was in to recruit, and at that time we talked about Ty. (Kane) said he was doing well and was poised to get even more playing time this year because of having a great spring and they were very excited about him. I wasn’t shocked by Ty having success. Ty is a very good football player, but he also has great knowledge of the game. He’s a student of the game.
“Here, you’re riding high and it was ironic how I was just talking to the coach and telling me that, and probably within a week or two ... it was really fast that I got the news that he had leukemia. And I was like, Wow, how things can change in a moment.”
If there was a silver lining — if there can be a silver lining — the leukemia was found early and Sander started treatments immediately.
“From what I know, once the one blood test came back the next thing you know he was down at CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia),” said Walkowiak. “So once they found things, he was down to Philly right away.”
While not easy to do, the Palmerton head coach needed to deliver the information to his current players.
And despite the sadness the findings brought, Walkowiak used it to teach a life lesson.
“We always talk to the players and tell them don’t take things for granted,” said the Blue Bomber coach. “We tell them how things can change in a moment. It was in the spring that I broke the news to them, and it was one of those talks ... I said, ‘If you don’t believe me (not taking things for granted), here’s why,’ and then I told them about Ty being diagnosed with leukemia.
“A lot of the guys, our junior class were freshmen when Ty was there so the juniors and seniors got to play with Ty, so about half the team had played with Ty. So it brought meaning to when you say those words, it can happen anywhere ... hey, this is real.”
As the news spread, many within the Palmerton program and community wanted to show support to Ty and the entire Sander family.
And while they did in the months that followed, the biggest event occurred this past Saturday evening as the Bombers opened their season at home.
Palmerton held an Orange Out, the color ribbon that’s used to raise awareness about leukemia. During the game, all the coaches wore T-shirts that had the saying, “In This Family No One Fights Alone.”
A 50-50 was also held with proceeds going to the family.
But probably the evening’s best moment came when a message from Ty was played for the fans. In it, he thanked everyone for their support, and also announced that doctors believed he was in remission and was now cancer free.
“I actually got the news the Thursday before the game,” said Walkowiak. “The parents (Diane and Mike) were standing in line getting season tickets, and they let me know. (Ty) couldn’t attend our game because he was getting some other advanced treatment ... He watched the game, I know. His dad sent me a picture of him and his mom watching the game from down at the hospital.
“We’re just trying to help out. That was the mission. Laura Konze from our parents club, plus the parents club in general, we wanted to do something. Laura does a great job with the parents club and all the players in our program ... She spearheaded a lot of the things, like with the T-shirts that we were getting, ordering them ... We decided we wanted to do more events to help them out, and we thought what a way to kick off the season with an Orange Out to raise money for Ty and the Leukemia Foundation, and to get the community support, which they came out and did a great job.”
That community support, which is typical of Palmerton, is common throughout the area.
And it was there for Ty during his time of need.
“I think you see it in a lot of small communities,” said Walkowiak. “But Palmerton, since I’ve been here coaching now for 20 years between head coach and assistant ... when anybody with any type of crisis has happened in the town, the town really comes together, and it’s just really special and unique to see. Everybody does have each other’s back, and they contribute in the best possible way that they can. And they support everybody to help them through difficult times.”
The hope now is that Ty continues to stay cancer free, and return to the best health possible.
And if anyone can do that, according to his former coach, it’s Sander.
“The biggest thing that I could stress and say is that Ty Sander is the person that I would bet on in any fight and any type of situation from having coached him,” said Walkowiak. “We knew it would be a battle, but I knew it was a battle that he would take full steam ahead and his approach to the whole thing was day-by-day, minute-by-minute, and he was always positive whenever I got to talk to him.”