If you pass by the Baton Rouge Downtown Greenway, you may notice a new addition… a familiar face… a statue of the late Trevor Sims.
“It really does have his likeness, and it looks like an older version of Trevor. It’s precious,” said Allison Sims, Trevor’s mother.
Sims honestly did not think this day would come, but it did happen, all thanks to Ashton Kennedy.
“It took around three years, give or take a couple of months. My first step, I went to Mayor Holden, and he was very kind to me and really took me under his wing, who put me in contact with Coach Del Brown, who knows everybody in the world,” explained Kennedy. “So, I typed up an email for him to send to all of his contacts. So, that’s when donations started pouring in from all over the country.”
Around $15,000 in donations helped make this happen. Kennedy said it is the least he could do for someone who made such a mark in this community.
“Well, it was definitely the impact that he made on my life, you know, being able to form a friendship and see what he was all about, and about how down to earth he was, and no matter what he was going through he always put others first as we saw by Trevor’s Wish, the food drive,” said Kennedy.
Trevor’s mom just hopes people can be inspired when they pass by and see the face of a smiling little boy who just wanted to make a difference and he did.
“If they don’t know Trevor’s story that they’ll learn about it, and use it as an example to really continue his mission to help others love thy neighbor. That’s the message and continue to spread that love,” concluded Sims.
Representatives from the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and the Downtown Development District were there for the unveiling, along with Trevor’s family, friends and supporters.
Trevor passed away at the age of 11 from a rare tissue cancer in October 2013.
If you want to see the statue for yourself, it is across the street from the Old Governor’s Mansion on North Boulevard.