Grand Rapids Joins Firefighters Across State to Support Young Boy with OCD
City Times Staff
Supporting not just your community, but your entire state? Challenge Accepted.
The Grand Rapids Fire Department recently accepted a challenge from the West Bend Fire Department to show support for a 12-year-old Waupun boy suffering from severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. (OCD)
His name is Cole Ewerdt, and and recently Cole has been hospitalized due to crippling anxiety and overwhelming stress that comes with the condition, and is currently going through therapy. Two weeks ago, Cole was able to spend a day with Fond Du Lac firefighters, and with that a chain of support started to develop across the state.
Wisconsin firefighters are now joining in, including West Bend, who made the challenge to Grand Rapids to continue the outpour of support.
“This is something fire departments around the state have been doing to help boost the young man’s spirit,” said Grand Rapids Fire Chief Don Bohn. “We like to participate, and to send the young man a message of encouragement.”
The encouragement has been well-received by family and friends, and according to Bohn, it’s time for the challenge to continue the message of encouragement.
“We would like individuals to share this message and comment with words of encouragement — and we would like organizations and other fire departments to share the message and to take a photo with a greeting for Cole. Cole looks up to firefighters, so photos from fire departments will be especially cool for him.”
