4MyChild: Help and Hope for Life

May 19, 2007

Boy with Cerebral Palsy Becomes Eagle Scout!

A Scout’s story: ‘It’s like being on top of a mountain’

Bethlehem teen conquers challenges of cerebral palsy to earn Boy Scouting’s highest honor.
By Michael Duck Of The Morning Call

Blake Tange’s eyes flashed as he told stories about setting up tents in the middle of the night and sliding down snowy trails with his fellow Boy Scouts — all part of the challenge of Scouting, but an even bigger test for the Bethlehem 17-year-old in Troop 362.

Tange was born with a cyst filling half his brain cavity, leaving him with cerebral palsy and other medical conditions that make standing and walking difficult. But those challenges couldn’t stop him from hiking, camping and knot-tying his way to a ceremony today where he’ll be awarded the rank of Eagle Scout, an honor achieved by only 5 percent of Boy Scouts nationwide.

THE TRAIL TO EAGLE- Accomplishments by Blake Tange, 17-year-old Boy Scout from Bethlehem with cerebral palsy, that helped him reach the rank of Eagle Scout:

Service: Led a team of 25 volunteers to create a wheelchair-accessible nature trail at a center for special-needs children.

Leadership: Served as senior patrol leader (top youth leader in troop), quartermaster (in charge of troop camping equipment) and junior assistant Scoutmaster (assists adult leaders), among other positions.

Skills: Earned 55 merit badges in subjects including camping, first aid, orienteering, personal fitness, wilderness survival and wood carving. (Twenty-one badges are required to reach Eagle Scout.)
Source: Morning Call staff
Related PhotosBlake Tange
(Michael Kubel/The Morning Call) Lehigh Valley Local Links

”I’ve wanted to do this since I was in first grade,” Tange said, beaming. ”It’s like being on top of a mountain.”

To read entire article please visit: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_4scout.5844060may12,0,604731.story?coll=all-news-he, or read more inspirational stories about people with cerebral palsy.