Just like a real Major Leaguer, just like any true lover of “The Game,” Tyler Trembley of Daphne hit the field running and hustled off — as best he could.

And he did it despite the pain and despite the fatigue of a three-year battle with neuroblastoma.

“Tyler loves baseball and loves the Boston Red Sox,” said family friend Laurie Smith. “He is an adorable boy who always has a smile on his face.”

Smith also said Tyler and his twin sister Hannah attend Daphne East Elementary School and had their 11th birthday last week.

Another family friend Kara Wilbourn and her daughter Kali — a classmate of Tyler and Hannah — along Smith and her children have led a team of parents, teachers and others to help offset some of the Trembley family’s expenses. Magic Moments, the Mobile Bay Bears and most recently the Daphne High Trojans baseball team have pitched in purchasing and wearing “I Wear Gold for Tyler” T-shirts during their recent summer games. Smith said Tyler wanted to attend the Wood Bat Classic last weekend at DHS, but was unable.

Wilbourn came up with the T-shirt campaign.

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Tyler, Hannah for a few years now,” Wilbourn said. “My daughter, Kali, has been in their class for a couple of those years and we have both grown to love them on such a personal level. Tyler has such a wise soul and a loving spirit toward everything he encounters and everyone he meets.

“It amazes me how caring he is toward Kali and others, even through his own difficult times. You never see him complain, only smile his well-known, big grin and share his laughter with everyone around him. It’s contagious. No one that meets him can walk away without a piece of his lovable and peaceful spirit.”

Wilbourn started the “I wear Gold for Tyler” T-shirts to help continue to Raise money for Tyler and his family. "Having him on a shirt made it even better,” she said.

Daphne head baseball coach Joe Hutchins said buying the gold shirts and wearing them as game jerseys was a way to let Tyler know he's a part of the Daphne team.

“This was just something we could do to support a good cause,” he said. “And you know, us ball players got to stick together and Tyler’s a ball player. He's one of us.”

Wilbourn said the need is ongoing.

Kali created a fund raiser during the last week of school called “Wishes for Tyler,” where the students at Daphne East Elementary could buy a wish sheet and write a wish for Tyler. We laminated and presented it to him in a book form. Laurie Smith and myself, along with the help of the Daphne East PTA, also sold “Donuts for Tyler” one morning during the last week of school, raising more than $3,500 for them.

For more information about donations, contact Kara Wilbourn at: karaw@bellsouth.net or cell 251-472-6544 or by “liking” the “I Wear Gold For Tyler” Facebook page.

Tony Whitehead is a sports writer for Gulf Coast Newspapers. Reach him by email at twhitehead@gulfcoastnewspapers.com