Leaving a legacy of joy and a better tomorrow

Kyle Thomas Spane was happy to the core. His love for life radiated outward, imbuing the people around him with vitality and cheeriness. It was this unshakable positivity — with his deep devotion to family, friends and dedication to finding joy in everyday things, that defined the way he lived, even as he was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer and went through treatment. When he died from the disease in the summer of 2024, Spane’s loved ones rallied to build a legacy of hope in his honor, inspired by his unyielding spirit.

Spane started having stomach pain in early December 2023. He was 35, a full decade younger than the recommended age of getting a first colonoscopy. At first, he attributed his flare-ups to the immense grief he and his family were navigating after the heartbreaking loss of their expected baby daughter, Holland, in the third trimester of pregnancy. Despite the discomfort, Spane remained steadfast in balancing his many roles as a husband, father to two-year-old Braiden, son, brother, grandson, coworker and friend.

It was a shock to Spane when he was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic colon cancer in January 2024, just six weeks after Holland’s death. His primary tumor carried the BRAF-V600E gene mutation, which is found in only about 10% of metastatic colorectal cancer patients. The mutation made treatment difficult and reduced his chances for a prolonged life.

Through everything — his prognosis, the chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy — Spane held firm to three core beliefs. First, the people in his life meant the world to him, giving him strength and purpose throughout his treatment. Second, he loved his care team at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, often saying, “If I could give all of my money to Fred Hutch, I would.” And third, he wanted to ensure that no other family had to endure the hardships of cancer.  

Driven by those beliefs, Spane’s family and friends started raising funds. Their goal: raise $2 million to establish the Kyle Thomas Spane Endowed Chair, a permanent resource for a faculty member at Fred Hutch focused on colon cancer prevention, early detection and emerging research opportunities. 

“What breaks my heart and inspires me all at once is knowing that preventing colon cancer is a solvable problem. I wish it had been solved in time before Braiden lost his dad and I lost the love of my life,” said Elise Van Vuren, Spane’s widow. “Even when Kyle was alive, we knew we wanted to forge a future together where fewer families face this pain. Continuing that work just feels like the natural next step.” 

Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of those who loved Spane, his community has so far raised over $800,000. From a Washington State University football fundraiser at Spane’s favorite sports bar to an upcoming Galentine’s Day fundraiser and spring golf tournament, there’s a place for everyone to come together, honor his memory and ensure the fund continues to grow.

Seven months after his diagnosis, Spane died on August 12, 2024. Today his legacy continues on — a legacy dedicated to his loved ones, his community and a better tomorrow.