Garett Smith, 12, uses Tae Kwon-do to help cope with cystic fibrosis
Kwandrans tries to make a wish come true
Photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Garett Smith stretches during a class at Kwandrans Tae Kwon-do in Medina on Monday. Garett, 12, takes Tae Kwon-do classes twice a week.
He said the classes help him feel better and healthier. He has cystic fibrosis. Tae Kwon-do helps move the mucus in his lungs, keeping them clear.
Garett started taking Tae Kwon-do a year ago.
“They work very well with him,” said his mother Melody. “They’re very accommodating to his needs.”
Photo by Tom Rivers
Garett, a Middleport resident, is a seventh-grader at Roy-Hart. He said he likes to move during his Tae Kwon-do classes.
In May, Garett attended Disney World in Florida for a week with his family, including four brothers. Garett and his family were picked for the trip through Make-A-Wish Western New York.
The family was treated like royalty, given a ride to the airport in a limo.
His classmates and instructors at Kwandrans were happy Garett went on the week-long excursion. The group at Kwandrans decided to raise $8,500 so another kid in Western New York could go on a Make-A-Wsh trip.
Provided photo – Garett is pictured with his brothers at the Jurassic Park display at Disney World. The brothers include, from left: Hayden (14) , Bradley (9), Logan (8), Garett (12), and Grant (3).
Kwandrans has already put on several fund-raisers, including a kick-a-thon, car wash, bake sale and candy bar sales. The Tae Kwon-do students and instructors have raised $4,000, a little less than half of the goal.
“Garett told us all about it after he went to Disney in May,” said Debbie Farfaglia, manager and instructor at Kwandrans. “It inspired us to want to do that for a family.”
Provided Photo – Garett jumps into a pool on the trip to Disney World.
The group is pushing more upcoming fund-raisers to reach the $8,500 goal, including a chicken barbecue on Sept. 26 at Medina United Methodist Church from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
There will be a 5K run/walk on Oct. 31 in Albion. Participants are urged to dress up in Halloween costumes and then complete the course.
A spaghetti dinner and basket raffle is scheduled for Nov. 21 at the Medina United Methodist Church from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
For more on Make-A-Wish Western New York, click here.
