Community Corner

Quadriplegic, Blind Waukesha Teenager Becoming an Eagle Scout

Garrett Becker has been beating the odds his entire life. He has done it once again after collecting 2,700 pieces of clothing for the homeless.

Being quadriplegic and legally blind isn’t stopping a Waukesha teenager from becoming an Eagle Scout, highest rank in the Boy Scouts.

Garrett Becker, 19, is well on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout after collecting 2,700 pieces of clothing for the homeless, reported TMJ4.

Garrett's goal was only to collect 200 pieces as part of a service-learning project for the Boy Scouts. He went above and beyond by collecting about 2,700 pieces of coats, sweaters, socks, mittens, hats, and more for the Hope Center in Waukesha on January 17.

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Garret was born four months early and was given a 20 percent chance to live six months. At age 1 he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

He beat the odds once again after completing his service-learning project. Now he is only four badges away from becoming an Eagle Scout.

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His father, Dennis Becker, wasn’t sure his son was going to be able to do it when his mother first signed up Garrett Becker for Boy Scouts, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"My first thought was, 'I'm not so sure he can do it,' " Dennis Becker, who was a Eagle Scout himself, told the Journal Sentinel.

Scott Kleba, a counselor for Garrett's computer merit badge, gave Garrett the service-learning idea. Kleba’s wife is the president of the Hope Center board of directors.

Garrett told the Journal Sentinel that he was becoming an Eagle Scout because his father was one too.


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