Wish Granted

Not only does Kathryn Bryant know what it’s like to have a wish granted, the 35-year-old Christian counselor from Columbus, Ga., now finds herself, as the result of having her own wish fulfilled, implementing a program that will help make others’ dreams and wishes come true as well.

Bryant, who learned she had limb-girdle muscular dystrophy as a 6-year-old, found out in December she’d been named winner of the grand prize in the Pantene Beautiful Wishes contest. As a result, Pantene granted Bryant’s wish, providing the startup costs for her to start a foundation that aims at helping children with physical disabilities socialize with and relate to others in similar situations.

Bryant says the goal is to create school peer mentoring groups that bring together kids with physical disabilities and severe chronic conditions.

“The best thing we have to currently meet this need is the MDA summer camps,” she says, noting that she wants to complement the weeklong summer camp experience and provide a social support

On Jan. 7, Pantene spokesperson and Access Hollywood correspondent Maria Menounos interviewed Bryant on the red carpet of the “ 27 Dresses” movie premiere in Los Angeles.

network for kids and teens year round.

Bryant says she finds the motivation to help children with physical disabilities in her own experience with self-accep-tance issues as a teenager and young adult — times

when she felt “alone” and “different” as her muscular dystrophy progressed and precluded her from participating in athletics or caused her to struggle.

“Now I have the opportunity to take what I’ve been through to help kids, teens and young adults who are just like I was.”