Tommy Crisp may look to be your normal 11-year-old boy, but through the Calgary Cerebral Palsy Association and the Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta, Tommy has raised over $2,000 for his 9-year-old brother Kale, who suffers from a form of cerebral palsy. Recently, Tommy was recognized by Kids Up Front Calgary and Youth Central’s Pay It Forward project for his outstanding work in fundraising for The Cerebral Palsy Adaptive Bike Program. Since 2011, Tommy and Kale have become ambassadors for the disorder and work together to help other less fortunate children.
Cerebral Palsy refers to a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions, usually causing restricted neural muscular movement in parts of the body. The specific condition ranges from patient from patient as it is not a disease, but a condition mostly as a result of lack of oxygen in the brain during pregnancy or about the time of birth. Through damage to the cerebrum, one’s neural connections within itself and to other parts of the brain are severed, often also resulting in a musculoskeltal problems and other impairments to sensation. There is no known cure for Cerebral Palsy, rather, only treatment to reduce the effect of its complications.
Growing up as a kid, Tommy loved to play hockey, baseball and soccer. However, he soon recognized that his brother could not do any of these things because of his restricted movement. Many experiences that kids took for granted, his brother could not do. When he learned that there was an opportunity for his brother Kale to get an adapted 3-wheel bike, he quickly took initiative to fundraise. Asking pledges around his local neighborhood since 2011, Tommy continues to raise money for other CP children. By giving his brother Kale one of these bikes, they could now bike together, even though Kale cannot walk!
Donating his time and own money for Cerebral Palsy, Tommy hopes one day there will be cure to the condition. Seeing how this heartbreaking condition can have on the development of a child, Tommy has made an impact on the lives of many children with CP. His determination and devotion inspires many youth to take action against other issues that impact their own families.