After putting his Children’s Wish on hold for the past two years, 14-year-old Tristan Garrett was finally able to fly in a helicopter last Thursday thanks to the Kimmett Foundation.
“The highlight was lifting off. That was really fun. I loved the takeoff and kind of hovering around before going onto the runway,” the Calgary teen explained post-flight.
“It was awesome to get out and focus on something to get my mind off the hospital and all the appointments I have lately. It was a nice surprise.”
Garrett was invited to the Springbank Airport on April 20 under the impression he would be the Children’s Wish Foundation ambassador as the founders of the Kimmett Cup, the Kimmett family from Cochrane, presented the foundation with a $125,000 cheque. The teen was then caught off-guard during the presentation in the hangar as organizers announced Garrett would actually be fulfilling his wish that day and flying in a helicopter with pilot, Luca Ribetti.
“I keep saying this will go in his good book of memories,” said Loreli Garrett, Tristan’s mom.
“There are days that are not so good and for him to be able to experience something like this today, this will be what gets him through the rest of his treatment because he’ll remember today and it’s a good memory and he will realize there are good thing out there and he can be a part of it.”
At 12 years old, Garrett was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.
“It’s indescribable to see him light up over something and see him excited over something – it’s been a long time since we’ve seen that look on his face,” Loreli said.
Due to the illness and the effects of his treatment, the teen has trouble with physical activities and suffers from pain throughout his body.
Garrett’s family said they are grateful to finally see him fulfil his wish.
“I am so thrilled at the opportunity for today – it’s awesome and so nice to see a wish come true for one of the kids,” said Dianne Kimmett.
“You can look at the tears in my eyes and see what it felt like – it was like Tristan had a burst of energy,” said Kelly Kimmett.
Giving back is how the family and friends decided to honour Lindsay Kimmett’s memory after the 26-year-old was killed in a car accident in February 2008. With the annual Kimmett Cup, a three-on-three fundraising hockey tournament, over the past nine years the family has given more than $2 million to initiatives in their late daughter’s name with the Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Memorial Foundation.
“I wish that none of this ever happened, but it did so we had to do something to continue Lindsay’s legacy so there would be many other wonderful things that would happen,” Kelly said tearfully.
The $125,000 donation was part of an overall four-year goal to raise $500,000 for the Children’s Wish Foundation. The organization is a wish granting charity that gives Canadian children between the ages of three and 17 who are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness the chance to have their wishes come true.
“It’s a really great organization … each wish is an average of $10,000 so that is an amazing thing (for the Kimmett’s) to do,” Garrett said.
For more information on the Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Memorial Foundation, go to lindsaykimmett.net.
