Boy Scout project evolves into friendship
http://www.dailynews.com/dennismccarthy/ci_5363907
BY DENNIS MCCARTHY, Columnist
Article Last Updated: 03/05/2007 11:17:41 PM PST
Christopher DeVries searched the sea of blue Cub Scout shirts in the
5K run/walk portion of Sunday's Los Angeles Marathon, looking for his
buddy Sam Bashe.
The 12-year-old Boy Scout from Thousand Oaks had promised the 10-year-
old Cub Scout with cerebral palsy that he would push him across the
finish line in his wheelchair.
But he was having trouble finding Sam in the crowd, and the finish
line was only a mile away.
A few months ago, the 14 Cub Scouts in Woodland Hills Pack 88 - all
physically disabled - were only a project to Christopher - a way for
him to earn his Boy Scout merit badge in disability awareness.
Two Saturdays a month, he met with them at the AbilityFirst/Paul
Weston Center in Woodland Hills.
Spend a few hours helping them with their Cub Scout projects and earn
the credits he needed for his merit badge. At least that was the
plan.
"We knew something special was happening when Christopher kept coming
home every Saturday telling us he was really having a great time with
them," said his dad, Peter.
"He wound up volunteering to be their den chief, their Boy Scout
mentor, which is a big commitment. "He's also starting to bring Scouts
from other troops to meet them.
"It's gone well beyond trying to earn a merit badge."
This is exactly what he was hoping would happen when he started Troop
88 in January, says Jeff Richards, director of the Woodland Hills
center that helps people with disabilities reach their full
potential.
It's all about inclusion, he says, getting able-bodied and disabled
Scouts mingling and learning from each other.
Knocking down some of those stupid stereotypes and fears.
"We have 14 boys now, but next year I'm sure we'll have 30 or 40 as
word spreads in the disabilities community that we're here waiting for
them with open arms," Richards said.
For more information on the Weston Centers programs, call Richards at
(818) 884-6612, Ext. 102.
Christopher found Sam with less than a mile to go Sunday, taking over
pushing his wheelchair from Sam's mom, Jo. Her son had been up since
4:30 a.m., dressed and ready to go, she said. She hadn't seen him this
excited since the day he got his Cub Scout shirt and cap a few months
ago.
"He wore them to bed, refusing to take them off," she said, laughing.
"You just don't know how important something like this is, to be
included.
"Normal kids don't like being around Sam because he can't do what they
can. He gets left out of everything.
"Now he's so happy, and has something to look forward to - his Cub
Scout meetings and being with Chris, his best buddy."
That was them a hundred yards ahead, smiling as they crossed the
finish line and had a gold medal placed around their necks.
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