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Amanda Butterfield reporting Ask a 14-year-old to make a wish and you might expect to hear something about a sports car or a game console, but a West Jordan teenager had something completely different in mind and is now using it to help others.
Garrett Stewart wants to give back to the foundation that helped his wish for a roping arena in his backyard come true. "I didn't know about the Make-A-Wish program before, and when I got my wish it really came to my eyes about how much people would do for sick kids," Garrett said.
Doctors found a brain tumor in the young roper while he was a first-grader. Garrett says that the tumor is now in remission and has shrunk to about the size of an English pea.
His backyard arena gives him the chance to practice his number one enthusiasm: team roping. "I get a lot of practice there. Every day I can go out and see what they did for me," he said.
Garrett thought his love for team roping could help wishes come true for other young patients, so he started a team roping competition. Last year, he raised $7,500 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, enough to help two children. He hopes to double that amount this weekend.
Garrett's "Ropin' for Wishes" team roping competition continues tomorrow at the Salt Lake County Equestrian Park in South Jordan. Besides roping, visitors can bid at a silent auction or buy items outright at the boutique. All proceeds will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
