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Neighbors | Submitted.Cody Piver is trying to follow his dream of becoming a national Para Taekwondo champion and a chance to represent Team USA as the youngest athlete from Ohio ever to compete in Para Taekwondo. Piver and his family are seeking the help of sponsors and donations to help him get to nationals. Those interested can visit Piver's Go Fund Me account at http://www.gofundme.com/para-taekwondo-nationals-dream or contact Michelle Piver, his mother, at michelle.piver@gmail.com or 216-379-0578.
By ABBY SLANKER
neighbors@vindy.com
Cody Piver, a seventh-grade student at Canfield Village Middle School, is trying to follow his dream of becoming a national Para Taekwondo champion and a chance to represent Team USA as the youngest athlete from Ohio ever to compete in Para Taekwondo.
Piver has been taking classes at the Boardman location of Junior Taekwondo School.
“Our affiliation with the school really started as a way to keep him active. Cody has cerebral palsy, and keeping active means that he is suffering less from chronic pain, and he has more of a chance to continue being able to walk as he grows into an adult. Statistically, most children with cerebral palsy who can walk end up as wheelchair dependent adults as pain and therapy becomes less successful for them,“ said Piver’s mother, Michelle.
Michelle stated that Taekwondo has helped Piver gain much needed strength and balance.
“Cody is 13 and over 5 feet tall and his back and his legs were really hurting a lot causing him to want to be in a wheelchair more often. Taekwondo has allowed him to gain strength and balance like never before. He complains less about pain, and his can stand up straight and walk much further distances without needing his wheelchair or resting more frequently,” Michelle said.
Piver recently competed at Ohio State Competition in Columbus as the youngest child in the Para Taekwondo competition. He left there a double gold medal winner and enough points to go on to national competition in Detroit this July.
Piver has always been interested in martial arts, and was excited to be able to take classes and compete.
“I have always loved martial arts, so when I had a chance to take classes I was excited. I didn’t know I could even compete at the national level so when they asked me to go to State, it was just for the experience of going to compete,” Piver said.
Piver said the best thing about competing is being a part of something.
“The best part of competing is being part of something that people, even with disabilities, can do. It feels good to win medals and break boards,” Piver said.
Michelle echoed Piver’s sentiments.
“It’s been such a great self esteem booster, because these days, many people with disabilities are looked at as less than who they really are as a person. My family has always adopted the attitude that everyone has abilities, and should be respected as such,” Michelle said.
Piver was born three months premature, and suffered a major brain bleed that statistically should have ended his life.
“His father and I were told that even if he survived, he would not have a good quality of life. And Cody has beat and exceeded every odd ever placed in front of him. He is truly my hero and my inspiration,” Michelle said.
Piver, and his mom, laid out their goals for the national competition this summer.
“Cody’s goals are to win more medals and have a chance to be part of Team trials for Team USA. Mom’s goals though are to have exposure to the sport of Para Taekwondo to encourage more para athletic participation in the sport. We want to help the program grow,” Michelle said.
Michelle would also like to thank Piver’s Taekwondo school, as the staff there has been very supportive of Piver.
“The staff at the Boardman location of Junior Taekwondo School have never once looked at Cody and focused on what he can’t do. They 100 percent see my son as a person, and focus on his abilities,” Piver said.
Michelle would also like to reach out to the community for some help in getting Piver to the national competition.
“We are reaching out, because without the help of sponsors and donations, going to nationals will not be something that we can do, because it’s very costly. I am hoping that letting the community know we have such a great kid here locally who could be part of Team USA, that we could get more help. In order to go to nationals we need to raise funds. We would really like some sponsors so we can represent Canfield and all of Youngstown in Detroit this summer. We also have a Go Fund Me account set up for Cody at http://www.gofundme.com/para-taekwondo-nationals-dream,” said Michelle, who can be reached at michelle.piver@gmail.com or 216-379-0578.
Piver’s board breaking skills can be seen on social media, and one video in particular caught the attention of a U.S. Olympic Taekwondo athlete.
“Cody is also on Instagram chronicling his nationals quest @TKDCody. He has previously been on Facebook as a viral video doing a board breaking demonstration. It’s his favorite activity. One video on LAD Bible Facebook Page, got 2.1 million views. And it’s that video that inspired a 1988 U.S. Olympic Taekwondo athlete to reach out to us to ask us to compete in Ohio state championships to go to nationals. So it’s really important that he be there in July,” Michelle said.
Piver will also be demonstrating his board breaking skills at a local fund raiser.
“Cody’s team will be doing a kick-a-thon and Cody will be doing a board breaking demonstration. People will be able to donate a dollar a board and he will attempt to break 50 or more boards. So those interested could contact the Jr. Taekwondo School at 234-200-1541,” Michelle said.
Piver had some words of wisdom for anyone who is also living with a disability.
“I say that people of all abilities can do anything. If I can do it, you can do it. We shouldn’t allow ourselves to stand in the way of us,” Piver said.