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Ryan Darby of Bethesda is like any other 6-year-old boy. He's active, likes sports and loves to play football with his two brothers. But one thing sets him apart from most 6-year-olds: Ryan has leukemia.

In honor of Ryan and his athleticism, he and his family organized the Just Tryan It children's triathlon, which took place June 27. The event raised $64,000 for Georgetown University Hospital's Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit Family Assistance Fund, which provides financial assistance for struggling families.

"We are very fortunate that we do have insurance and we do have friends and family in the area, said Mollie Darby, Ryan's mother. Ryan's grandmother, who also lives in Bethesda, moved in with the family after he was diagnosed to help them get through the process.

"We wanted to give back to families that didn't have those things and that weren't as fortunate as we have been," Darby said.

At the time of Ryan's diagnosis, Ryan's mother was among 11 other local women who participated in triathlons. The team, "Just Tri It," was struck by Ryan's diagnosis and started a nonprofit foundation to raise money for children with cancer. They renamed the team "Just Tryan It" in honor of Ryan and organized the children's triathlon.

One night last year, Ryan woke up in the middle of the night screaming about a pain in his back and hip. After undergoing tests at Georgetown University Hospital, he was diagnosed Dec. 23 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He stayed at the hospital for 18 days to receive chemotherapy and steroid treatments.

"He was a trooper through it all and he was just resilient," Mollie Darby said. "All of his hair did fall out and it's coming back."

He returns to Georgetown weekly for treatments and check-ups.

Though cancer is rare among children and adolescents, acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common among children under 15, affecting 23 percent of children diagnosed with cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates one in every 29,000 children is diagnosed with the acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The illness has a 94 percent cure rate.

"The treatment is about three years," said Ruth Hoffman, the executive director of the American Childhood Cancer Foundation. "It's a tough three years. But they do have a lot of hope with the diagnosis."

The American Childhood Cancer Organization is a national grassroots organization based in Kensington that produces children's books and literature to help families through the diagnosis and treatment process.

"Generally the approach is that it's a big elephant in the room. If you don't address the big elephant in the room then it's scarier," Hoffman said.

Hoffman said one example of how to explain a serious illness to children is to find a way to bring it down to their level.

"My daughter had leukemia. She was 7. One of the stories I used with her was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. When she was first diagnosed, I read that book to her and it talked about Aslan losing his hair," Hoffman said. "It was that imagery I used that she was going to lose her hair."

The Darbys also believe it was important to be honest with Ryan, "because it is his disease and his treatment," his mother said.

Ryan will turn 7 in July and will return to school in September, but the date Mollie Darby is eager for is a few years off.

"I'm looking forward to Feb. 23, 2013. That's when his treatment will end," she said.

Ryan Darby, 6, was chosen as this year's Patient Hero for the Bobby Mitchell/Autotrader.com Hall of Fame Golf Classic to be hosted by The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He will be honored at a banquet Saturday. The banquet also will feature a silent and live auction to help raise money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Emory Linder — a member of the planning committee and a friend of the Darby family — nominated Ryan for the honor, said Loree Lipstein, senior campaign manager. "We heard Ryan's story, and how could we resist?" she said.