Turning energy into action

Published: Tuesday, October 2, 2012, 12:01 a.m.

The Lynnwood resident visited his friend, Colton Wilson, 21, in a hospital room shortly after he fell off his skateboard and hit his head. Tardif, 31, spoke with Wilson's mother and older sister. Then he got to work.

"I'm a big energy person and I felt their energy," Tardiff said. "I called a couple of friends and asked, 'What are we able to do?'"

In August, he founded The Colton Can Foundation to raise money for Wilson's recovery. With the help of other volunteers, Tardif last month held The Colton Can Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Day at The Jet Bar and Grill in Mill Creek. The event included a concert by "American Idol" winner Kris Allen and other artists. It brought in a crowd of more than 400 people and raised about $18,000.

"We had a great time and it was exactly what we wanted it to be," Tardif said. "It really honored Colton."

Wilson is now out of the hospital and working toward recovery at a skilled nursing facility in Northgate. As a South Whidbey High School baseball player, Wilson battled bone cancer and used his wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2007 to renovate the school's baseball field.

Tardif, who is studying psychology at Western Washington University, met Wilson about a year ago at Azul Restaurant and Lounge in Mill Creek.

"He always wanted to learn something and he was always talking to people about what their experiences were," said Tardif.

Wilson, months into their friendship, told him about fighting cancer, Tardif added.

"We went snowboarding and we were up on the lift and talking about some of the stuff I've gone through in my life and he said 'Yeah, I've gone through some stuff, too.' I felt kind of bad after he told me his story and I thought what I've gone through is minimal compared to that."

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Turning energy into action