October 15, 2024 |
PHOTO – Tyler Nuhn – Courtesy Hailey Cobb
Friends and family of Tyler Nuhn have established a memorial fund to help students with diabetes continue their education.
Nuhn, a Platte Valley native, died on August 22, 2021, died of complications from Type One Diabetes. He was just 21 years old.
After his passing, Nuhn’s friends from the Encampment Elementary School—Hailey Cobb, Dalton Tyler, and Wyatt Cox—created the Tyler Nuhn Memorial with his mother, Diane.
Hailey Cobb explained that Nuhn was diagnosed with Type One diabetes at a young age. Despite the challenges associated with the disease, Cobb said Nuhn never let his illness stop him from living his life to the fullest.
Type One diabetes is a condition where the body’s own immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. With proper management, such as insulin therapy and close monitoring of blood sugar levels, people with Type One diabetes can lead normal lives. However, without regular insulin injections, blood sugar levels will rise, eventually causing organ failure and death.
Cobb said Nuhn never let his diabetes slow him down. The young man served with the Saratoga and Torrington Fire Departments and as a search and rescue volunteer. However, while working on a ranch in Torrington, Nuhn’s disease finally caught up to him.
Unlike Type Two Diabetes, which can be managed with diet and exercise, Type One diabetes requires regular insulin injections. After her son’s death, Cobb said Nuhn’s mother Diane suggested creating the memorial to support local diabetic students and educate the public about the disease.
Cobb explained that the Tyler Nuhn Memorial offers two scholarships for all Carbon County School District Number Two and Little Snake River students. The first scholarship is awarded to any graduate with Type One Diabetes, regardless of whether they plan to continue their schooling. The second scholarship supports students who may not excel academically but want to pursue further education.
Applicants for the academic scholarship must have a 3.0 or higher grade point average.
The Tyler Nuhn Memorial scholarships are funded through various fundraising efforts. Cobb said tomorrow and Thursday, the Silver Spur Ranch is hosting a potato picking event. While the event is free to attend, donations to the Tyler Nuhn Memorial will be accepted.
Cobb also said the Saratoga leather shop Pure Dixie has donated a custom embroidered denim purse to be raffled off for the benefit of the Tyler Nuhn Memorial. Raffle tickets are $15 for one, and $10 for each additional ticket. Tickets can be found at the Encampment Elementary School, Town and Country Realty, and Saratoga Feed and Grain. Additionally, tickets can be purchased from Diane Ratner, Dalton Taylor, Wyatt Cox, or Hailey Cobb. The raffle drawing will occur on December 11th.
Applications for the Tyler Nuhn Memorial scholarships are distributed to all Carbon County District Two and Little Snake River school councilors every spring.
Cobb wrote to Bigfoot99 reporter Matt Copeland that Ty was kind, funny, loved with his whole heart, constantly danced, and could fix anything. Ty loved being part of the fire department and search and rescue teams, as well as hanging out with friends at bonfires, and he was a great friend to everyone, especially little kids. Cobb wrote that you were guaranteed to have a good time with Ty. She and Ty’s friends associate the song “Give Heaven Some Hell” by Hardy with their late friend.
Cobb wrote that Tyler Nuhn was a great example to all and that everyone should live their lives like he did.
