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DEL.ICIO.USWesleyan’s Smith has talent for caring, too
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
His high school basketball career — an accomplished four-year run — ended a fortnight ago with Tanner Smith in a fitting position: holding the championship trophy.
In his last game for Wesleyan, Smith rescued his team when star Howard Thompkins was injured, with a legendary second-half effort. It was a good thing for a great guy.
For all Smith’s successes, including earning a scholarship to Clemson, he has done more off the court than most — certainly more than many seniors in high school.
The 6-foot-5 point guard has given out countless assists in the form of smiles to cancer patients at hospitals here and around the country. Let me explain:
When Smith was in the second grade his dad, Craig, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects white blood cells involved in protecting against infections.
The family moved to Nebraska so Craig Smith could receive a bone marrow transplant. While in the hospital, young Tanner Smith noticed something.
“The only time my dad really seemed to cheer up was when he had visitors or received flowers or gifts,” he said.
In the fourth grade, he wrote an essay about three wishes.
Smith’s list:
. To play pro basketball.
. Have a golden retriever.
. Make cancer patients smile.
In the sixth grade, he wrote a similar version of that paper. It was then that his parents said, “We’ve got to do something with this,” Smith’s mother, Kathy Smith recalled.
So, the family formed a nonprofit organization — Tanner’s Totes — that “aids teens and pre-teens who are undergoing treatments for cancer and other long term illnesses.”
It does so by delivering tote bags full of goodies — Nerf basketball games, hand-held video games, pencils, caps … items Smith knew kids would enjoy.
One of Kathy Smith’s sorority sisters identified the specific age groups as needing attention the most, which was perfect because it is Tanner Smith’s age group, too. “It’s something that I’ve enjoyed doing and get a lot out of it,” he said.
The first tote bags were delivered in November 2002. About every three months, Smith and his mom and others make trips to local hospitals with the gifts. They also send bags to hospitals in Nebraska and other states.
“It’s really growing,” Kathy Smith said. “People somehow hear about it and just donate items. It’s really special.”
The Smiths have raised money for the nonprofit through an annual Halloween party they’ve hosted for 13 years. But help has come from many sources. For instance, the Wesleyan girls softball team has made contributions, as has the Redfield Garden Club in Dunwoody and a Girl Scout troop in Peachtree City and the German Club at Northview High.
There have been individuals who sent caps that light up and other custom-made hats. The Wesleyan baseball team plans to come on board next week.
“I’m proud of what we’re doing,” Tanner Smith said. “And I want to do it in college, too. With Clemson’s support, we can probably reach more hospitals.”
Craig Smith could not be more proud of his son. He’s free of the non-Hodgkins lymphoma, but he acquired graft vs. host disease, a condition where engrafted donor cells attack the organs and tissue.
“It’s been rough for him,” Tanner Smith said, “but he’s a trouper.”
Smith’s parents bought him the golden retriever long ago. He is on the path for a a shot at an NBA career. And he has made cancer patients smile hundreds of times over — with more to come.
(To aid The Tanner Totes Foundation, visit www.tannerstotes.com)
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Curtis Bunn
Comments
By GA Buckeye
March 24, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
Wow, great story. That’s truly inspiring. I will share this with my teenage son who is a rising star athlete. Maybe, it will inspire him, as well.
Good luck Tanner…
By kevin
March 24, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
This story was very sad and it reminds me of another young fellow who is making a name for himself at Dunwoody so many kids have similar story like this young man, that is why kids fight so hard to stay afloat and find avenues like sports to get there minds off there sadness and what pain they may have to withstand in there family . Another young man that has a tremendous story to tell but maybe later is a player from Dunwoody I don’t want to over shadow this story and not allow this young man in this story to shine, And I refuse to put this other kid on Blast but he also had to overcome struggles unbearable while living out of homelessness and had the courage to continue to fight is way thru it all, he is from a single parent home and even though his parents were on drugs and locked down he continues to beat the odds, Sports has always been a healing affect for most kids he is truly like this young man in your story a fighter , kids like Tanner Smith and the kid I just mention and many more to come go thru trials but giving back to the community is a Joy, these kids always are successful in life, they are taught values to only for self but for others and they strive for excellence in every thing they do and continues to fight the odds while never giving up..