A Kindergarten student in Sarnia who raised nearly $3,000 during this year's Terry Fox Run is inspiring those around him.
Stephanie Oetting said her son, four-year-old Easton, raised $2,895 for the Terry Fox Foundation and took part in the recent walk/ run event at King George VI Public School in Sarnia.
"It warms my heart to see how many people are supporting him and cheering him on. It feels incredible," she said.
Easton was born with a rare genetic disorder called 8p23.1 duplication syndrome, which affects his muscle tone and speech, among other symptoms.
Easton Oetting. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Oetting).
"He uses a walker to get around but for the most part he walks around on his knees," said Oetting, who also said his motivation to use the walker during the Terry Fox Run at school got the attention of others.
Oetting said Easton also walked in honour of her late best friend, Jessica McCormick, who was considered as his aunt. After a two-year battle with leukemia, Oetting said McCormick died in June at the age of 32.
Another person who noticed Easton's tremendous effort was Grade 5 teacher Derek Bouma, He has organized the school's Terry Fox Run for the past seven years and said it's great to see Easton's determination.
"When I see him in the hallway, he's always smiling... always so happy," said Bouma.
Oetting said the school community has been very helpful by showing support and installing an outdoor ramp so Easton can easily access the schoolyard with his walker.
"We appreciate everybody. We feel like we have so much support and so many people behind us cheering him on," she said. "He's very determined and he's got so much ambition so I feel like one day, he will be able to walk independently."
The Terry Fox Run was held at King George VI Public School on September 29.
"In a time like this the students and families really stepped it up," said Bouma in an emailed statement. "The students seemed to have an extra step this year."
Bouma said the school as a whole raised $7,804.
Terry Fox Run at King George VI Public School. (Photo courtesy of Derek Bouma).