A wide grin spread across Cavan Franklin’s face as he was lifted from his wheelchair and set onto a pony for a quick ride Monday at the Clark County Fair.
The ride was an unusual treat for the 11-year-old, who has cerebral palsy and other developmental delays.
Cavan has difficulty walking and can’t verbalize his thoughts. But there was no mistaking the look of joy on his face as he rode around the small arena. He excitedly hugged and kissed volunteer Scott Taube from Clark County Fire District 6, as he helped to support the boy in the saddle. Afterward, Taube held Cavan so he could take a closer look and pet Trigger the pony.
Cavan is one of six children who participated in this year’s Memory Makers program at the fair. The program, in its 14th year, is organized by volunteers from Local 1805 Professional Firefighters who serve Fire District 6. It allows medically fragile children and their families to spend a day out together with some assistance.
If You Go
• What: Clark County Fair.
• When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday. Carnival opens at noon.
• Where: 17402 N.E. Delfel Road.
• Cost: $7.25 Tuesday for current and past military with ID. Service members, in uniform, enter for free today. Adults, $11.25; seniors 62 and older, $9.25; kids 7-12, $8.25; kids 6 and younger, free; parking, $6; C-Tran shuttle, free from six main transfer stations; $1 discount on full gate admission with coupon from shuttle operator. Schedules at www.c-tran.com.
• ERS Free Grandstand: Foghat, 7 p.m.
• Pets: Not permitted, except for service animals or those on exhibition or in competition.
• Information: 360-397-6180, www.clarkcofair.com
People’s Community Federal Credit Union, Clark County Fair and Butler Amusement assisted in each family’s fair experience by paying for admission, parking, carnival rides and food.
“It’s really good to see how much enjoyment the kids and their families get out of it,” said Taube, a captain with Fire District 6. He said the best part of the experience is seeing the children and their families relax and not worry about all of their other daily challenges.
Over the course of three days, volunteers guide two families per day through the fair. Some of the children, such as Cavan, are local, but others travel from around the state and Oregon. The children are chosen by the hospitals where they receive care — Providence Child Center in Portland and Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center.
On Monday, Cavan and 17-year-old David Kendall looked at animals, watched their siblings play carnival games and went on rides.
Kendall was born with cerebral palsy and also has epilepsy, said his mother, Andrea Kendall. He, too, is unable to speak, he can’t walk and requires a feeding tube. But none of that seemed to put a damper on his good time. He smiled as his little sisters, Caitlyn, 6, and Adelyn, 5, waved to him from atop their ponies.
“He is super smiley,” David’s mom said. “He loves to go out and do things. It makes him really happy.”
David’s family lives in Newberg, Ore., but he has lived at the Providence Child Center for the last six years. Providence provides the majority of David’s care. His family visits him throughout the week and brings him home on weekends, Andrea Kendall said.
Firefighter-paramedic Clint Greeley, who heads the Memory Makers program, said the experience is as much for the families as it is for the children.
David’s family couldn’t agree more.
“It’s wonderful for a family like ours who have difficulty getting their children out to do things,” said David’s father, Jeremy Kendall. “These kids deserve a good life.”
There’s added comfort, he said, knowing that if David were to encounter a medical emergency he was with people trained to help.
