His name is Bryden Hutt and I finally met him this week at Free the Children's We Day at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto!
Here's what the wild day looked like: 18,000 excited teens. Sponsors. Speakers. Performers. Heroes. More than just an annual day of inspiration and celebration, We day is a movement of young people leading local and global change, making a difference in our world. It's a fun day full of hope – for making everyone's world a better place.
I was there representing Canadian Living and it was loud (understatement). Kids love to make noise, and Energy x 18,000 makes a lot of noise. Every year, we sponsor Me to We Awards to recognize six individuals making a difference at home and around the world, and one recipient this year was 11-year-old Bryden Hutt, one of the biggest stars of We Day, if you ask me, as it is always shocking what I can learn from a kid.
5 things you can learn from a kid
1. You can make a difference even if you're young
When I was 11, I had no obstacles in my life. My parents fed me, clothed me and gave me love. I read my books, went to school and played with my friends. I was pretty happy but I never had any inkling of a vision like Bryden's. To date, he's raised more than $20,000 for the Children's Wish Foundation by doing things like selling chocolate and door-to-door fundraising.
2. Focus on the positive
Bryden’s childhood was very different than mine. He was diagnosed with Omenn syndrome (a rare immune deficiency) at just a few weeks old, which set him on the road to a childhood full of medical problems, hospital visits and surgeries. Although he was faced with many challenges, his infectious attitude and spirit is an inspiration.
3. We can do great things when we start with gratitude
When he was four years old, Bryden was given the oppoortunity to make a wish through the Children's Wish Foundation. He chose to visit Disney World and meet "the man who saved my life,” (his donor for a literally lifesaving bone marrow transplant). Through this experience, he learned how truly important a wish can be to a child when doctor's appointmetts and hospital stays are the norm. "I know how special my wish was to me,” he adds, "and I want to help others feel the same way I did.”
4. It's always good to have a hero
Bryden's mom told him about Rick Hansen (now celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Man in Motion World Tour), and Bryden was introduced to Rick at We Day. Rick chatted with Bryden and told him how excited he was to meet Bryden and how proud he was of him. And Bryden was practically jumping up and down. Lesson: Whatever age you are, it's good to get inspired by someone you admire.
5. Stay calm and carry on
It's Bryden's style. Well, perhaps not always calmly. He is just a kid, after all. He was up the night before, awakened by a fire alarm at the hotel, and had to get up early to do a TV spot the morning of We Day. And he met a lot of people. But he did it, he got through the day (sometimes his dad had to carry him) and took away some very good memories. And gave me a gift of a new hero.
