Ryan Kerr, 17; helped others with his disease

Ryan Kerr, 17, a Conestoga High School senior who battled cancer for five years and spoke out courageously about his experience, died Wednesday at his home in Wayne.

He passed away peacefully with his family at his side, said Lisa Kaupp, a family friend.

He was 12 when he fell while biking, said his mother, Cindy. Soon after, doctors discovered a rare bone cancer around one knee. The cancer spread to his lungs, despite 30 months of chemotherapy and 15 surgeries.

In August, Mr. Kerr opted to discontinue treatment and let the cancer run its course. He chose to die at home with the help of hospice.

"I'm comfortable," he said last month. "My quality of life is pretty good compared to what you would expect from someone who's dying. Hospice has really helped with that."

Mr. Kerr grew up on the Main Line. He liked "hanging" with friends from Conestoga High School in Berwyn, where he was a senior. Before cancer limited his mobility late last year, he enjoyed rock climbing, inline skating, scuba diving and skiing.

With his plight in mind, his mother created ConKerr Cancer, a nonprofit that provides bright pillowcases for hospitalized children facing difficult ailments. The group has sent out 23,000 cases nationwide.

"There [are] so many foundations that are collecting money to cure cancer," he said, "and not as many that are trying to improve the life of children while they're hospitalized."

Mr. Kerr supported the effort by speaking out and by appearing at ConKerr's special school programs. Along with other student volunteers, he sewed pillowcases.

"This is a kid who has given so much to so many people," said Marcy Mariani, supervisor of the peer mediation team at Conestoga, which Mr. Kerr joined. "He taught me you never give up, never. I watched that man come back from his disease so many times."

Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at Wayne Presbyterian Church, 125 E. Lancaster Ave., Wayne. At Mr. Kerr's request, participants are asked to wear bright-colored clothing, no black. Burial is in the Cemetery of Washington Memorial Chapel, Valley Forge.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pennsylvania Center for Adaptive Sports, 4 Boathouse Row, Kelly Drive, Philadelphia 19130.