By Lorene Keitch
Pioneer Staff
I love stories that feature the very best of humanity. The tales of those who persevere, who don’t let circumstances get them down, who rise above and do something to make life better.
That’s why the story of Kingston Wood (page 8) is not one to be missed this week. Kingston is a local kid facing a challenging life with Spina Bifida. For some people born with differences, they let that difference define them. Kingston is not one of those people.
Case in point: Kingston wanted a bike. But with his condition, he needed a specialized bike. Did he beg and cajole his parents to buy one? Nope. Did he whine and complain? Nope. He looked at what he had: ample time and a good visual location for selling a product. He opted to sell tattoos at a buck each to raise money for the new set of wheels. Patiently, he started to gather the necessary funds, slowly and steadily.
It is admirable to see any individual with long-term vision, to realize that even a $3,000 goal can be achieved $1 at a time. But for a kid to have that sort of thinking is extraordinary. A visitor from Edmonton felt the same way; she ended up fundraising enough to help Kingston afford the bike. She even admitted Kingston’s story helped her to see the good when she was going through a rough time in her own life.
For a kid that had every excuse, Kingston took none. Through diligence and patience, he achieved what he set out to do. If we all treated our challenges and goals like Kingston, we would do a lot less complaining and, I think, find a lot more solutions to our own problems. Thanks, Kingston, for reminding us that even large goals can be accomplished, one small piece at a time.
