Local 6-Year-Old Raising Funds to End Lung Disease

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6-year-old Konnor Babetski raising funds to end lung disease

CLEVELAND, OH (02/18/2016)(readMedia)-- Konnor Babetski was only 21 months old the first time he stopped breathing. At 23 months old, he was diagnosed with asthma. Now, as a kindergartener at Uniontown Elementary School, he's helping to put an end to lung disease once and for all.

Konnor will be the youngest team member at the American Lung Association's Fight for Air Climb on Saturday March 5th. The event, which challenges participants to race to the top of Terminal Tower, raises awareness and funds for lung disease research, education and advocacy.

It's a mission that hits close to home for Konnor's mother, Kellie, who understands the toll that lung disease can take on a child. "My 2-year-old would look at me and cry for help, and there was nothing I could do," she remembers. "You know, your job as a parent is to protect your child from everything you can, and I couldn't do anything. We tried different asthma medications, inhalers, nebulizers, maintenance meds, emergency meds; everything the doctors could prescribe. We were just grasping at anything to help him."

Eventually Konnor found a program at Nationwide Children's hospital that allows him to enjoy a relatively normal childhood, but Kellie says that danger is never far off. "He misses so much. If we send him to school or a birthday party where another child has a cold, it usually means an asthma attack and a trip to the ER for Konnor. We have to be very careful."

It was at one of those emergency visits that Konnor started taking an interest in the other sick children. Kellie remembers the conversation. "He asked so many questions about them. He's very sensitive and has empathy for all living things. So, one day we started talking about how we can help those other sick kids."

And the Fight for Air Climb provided the perfect opportunity to do that. Konnor and his family formed a team and began spreading the word. And while Konnor is too young to climb on his own, he will be playing an integral role in the event: handing out high-fives at the top of Terminal Tower.

"Unfortunately, Konnor's health is out of our hands," Kellie said, "but I can do everything else in my power to help him. This is one step towards that. My son is the most amazing 6 year old you will ever meet, and I work every day to be half the person he is. This is my way of giving back everything he has given me. I will never stop fighting to help him and other kids struggling with asthma. This is just my first step. I want to show him that we will fight."

The American Lung Association's Fight for Air Climb will take place on March 5th at Terminal Tower in downtown Cleveland. Visit www.ClimbCleveland.org to learn more and register.