Cody Clark
Cody Clark is 12 years old and is a Grade 7 student at St. Michael's
Catholic High School in Kemptville, Ontario Canada. He loves Martial
Arts, Music, art and basketball.
I started Cody in karate at age 5 because he was an only child and
scared of everything. Wanting him to have more self-esteem and focus, I
placed him in Douvris Martial Arts where he gained a Junior Black Belt
at the age of 8 He then went to Rideau Osgoode Karate Club
where he gained a Junior Black belt at the age of 11.
Now at age 12 he is taking Tae Kwon Do with Grand Master Tae E Lee in
Kemptville Ontario under Mr Peter DeRyke and will be grading for his
green belt in February 2007.
Cody has won many gold medals for karate and weapons like the Bo staff.
In May 2006 he entered the first Tae E. Lee Day Tournament and won his
first Gold medal in Tae Kwon Do.
Cody is also President and Founder of Cody's Individual Comfort Kits and
Cody's Cuddler's and started his philanthropic ways at the age of 7 and
a half, when he found a friend needed a new heart.
He hosts his own event called "Cody's Poor Boy Supper"
annually and has raised over 30,000 dollars for his events and has
pledged funds to charities like Roger's House in Ottawa and The North
Grenville Hospice.
Last year he suffered the loss of his dad, after a 6 year battle with
cancer. Instead of being bitter he started Cody's Cuddler's which are
teddy bears for the cancer patients where his dad received treatment. To
date over 260 bears have been delivered personally by Cody and he goes
back to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre every 2 months. In 2002 he began Cody's Comfort Kits which are kits for children in the
ER at his local hospital in Kemptville. They are filled with toys,
books, cars and a bear all age appropriate.
over 225 kits have been delivered since then and in 2003 he thought the
elderly should not be left out so Grandma and Grampa Kits were born!
Over 80 of these kits have been given out so far. He is looking to expand his Cody's Cuddler's to the USA, Australia and
Europe and I am sure he will accomplish that!
I am sure the reason behind his empathy is not only almost losing both
parents at an early age to cancer---his mom is 5 years cancer -free---
but because karate and Tae Kwon Do have given him the courage, focus and
self-esteem to be successful in whatever he might want to do or be. His motto is, "It's not always about winning, but about doing your
best, the best that you can be"
Thank you for letting me share this story with you. yours in martial
arts and caring, Jan Clark
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