×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Travis ‘The Terror’ Clark Shows Off His Softer Side

Photo by Kim North Travis Clark holds Easton Holden, 4, during a Sparkle of Joy event Thursday afternoon at Team Terror Fitness/Source Fitness in St. Clairsville. The event was sponsored by A Special Wish Foundation.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — It’s no secret that Travis “The Terror” Clark loves kids. Sometimes they love him back.

That was such the case Thursday afternoon, when Clark met 4-year-old Easton Holden during a Sparkle of Joy event sponsored by A Special Wish Foundation. Clark, who has partnered with Justin Green of Source Fitness on Tinmar Drive, picked the youngster up and was never able to put him down during the 90-minute affair.

“I think he likes me,” said Clark, who has been a professional boxer, professional kickboxer and professional cagefighter. “I like him. He looks like a real fighter.”

Easton, the son of Wendy and Greg Holden, of Barnesville, was born a month premature July 28, 2014, at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh.

He weighed just 4 pounds, 1 ounce and suffered from Down Syndrome. It was learned after his birth that his heart condition was more extensive than originally thought. He was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and a narrowing of the neoaortic arch. He has undergone three heart surgeries.

“It amazes me every time I’m around kids,” Clark admitted. “These kids think I’m something, and they want to talk to me and hang around me. For me, I feel good about it. Maybe I am doing the right things in life.”

Clark worked with several A Special Wish children and their families last week, providing one-on-one time in the ring, showing them how to use hitting mitts, and demonstrating how to be safe in the ring.

“Boxing has opened up so many doors in my life for me to help people,” said Clark. “That’s ultimately all I’ve ever wanted to do in my life was to help people and do good. So, here we are today. I’m not only excited to be a part of this, but I am truly honored to be asked to do anything. It means so much to me that people even care about me and what I do. It really does.”

Also participating in the event were 9-year-old St. Clairsville resident Dominic Alexander and Jaxson Baker, 4, of Adena.

Alexander, a student at St. Clairsville Elementary, was suddenly diagnosed last year with stage 3A Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He underwent a minimum of six months of chemotherapy and is in remission.

His Special Wish was to visit Disney World, which he did over Christmas. His Sparkle of Joy of being a member of the Wheeling Nailers was granted last season when he signed a “contract” to join the team. He then sat on the bench during warmups before heading back into the locker room to read off the starting lineup.

He is the son of Erica and Corey of St. Clairsville.

Jaxson was diagnosed at 7 months old with severe hemophilia, an inherited bleeding disorder in which his blood is missing an important clotting protein, meaning bleeding can happen due to injury or spontaneously inside and outside of the body. Jaxson also experiences severe bruising, often caused by normal everyday play. He receives treatments weekly to help prevent bleeds.

There is no cure for hemophilia. Having hemophilia prevents Jaxson from participating in contact sports, such as football and hockey, as they could cause traumatic injury to his body.

An avid swimmer, Jaxson and his family were presented with an aboveground swimming pool by A Special Wish Foundation.

He is the son of Kelly and Josh Baker.

“Sparkles of Joy is another part of what we do because our Wish kiddos have been through so much,” said Alicia Freeman, executive director for A Special Wish Foundation.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today