Most communities have their hometown heroes, but they’re usually not kids.

North Jefferson County has such a person: Alex Swader.

Swader has done more in his 14 years than many people do in a much longer lifetime.

As the founder of Dancers Fighting Cancer, Swader has raised more than $100,000 for pediatric cancer research at Children’s of Alabama through his annual Tapping Out Childhood Cancer galas — counting more than $35,000 at this year’s event, which was Sunday.

This year’s gala was the sixth annual fundraiser; he started when he was 9 years old.

Swader, who is a freshman at Gardendale High School, does not just raise money; he personally delivers hope and encouragement to children with cancer.

Several times a year, he has friends, family and strangers make Easter baskets, Christmas cards and other items of encouragement for sick kids at Childrens of Alabama. He personally hands out the gifts at the hospital.

Swader knows how they feel. He was one of those sick children in the hospital six years ago. He was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare type of cancer, when he was 8. He endured chemotherapy treatments and all of their effects. It worked; Swader has been cancer-free ever since.

“Having cancer made me look at life in a different way; now I know how quickly it can be taken away,” he said. “It’s very hard for me to comprehend acting like it never happened. It’s unreasonable. It was God’s way of telling me, this is what you need to do. … We’re saving lives.”

Swader now combines his two passions — dancing and raising money for pediatric cancer research — to do his part and much more to help find a cure for childhood cancer.

At Sunday’s Tapping Out Childhood Cancer gala, dancers from across the country took part, as well as local dance companies and even high school cheerleaders.

Swader was also recognized for his work recently on a national level.

He was one of eight dancers named in September as an Industry Dance Award 2014 Circle of Hope recipient. The recipients are dancers who currently have cancer or have survived cancer, and who have inspired others.

Swader and his family traveled to Los Angeles to receive his award, which included $2,500 for his charity of choice, which is for pediatric cancer research at Children’s of Alabama.

“It’s pretty crazy,” said Swader. “I never imagined something like this would happen. Here I am in Mt. Olive and I never thought someone from LA would reach out to me. It’s really mind-blowing but it’s also humbling.”