A Challenging Climb

What would cause someone to tackle the legendary Appalachian trail? For Trevor Thomas it was proving to himself that macular degeneration, a form of blindness, would not hold him down.

The rugged Appalachian trail, stretching across 14 eastern states, has often been attempted but rarely completed in whole. Only about 8,000 hikers have made it through the entire 2,175 mile journey. History records that only five of them were blind.

Trevor, an extreme sports enthusiast prior to the onset of his condition, had his very nervous sister drop him off at the trail's start point in Georgia. When his guide didn't show up Trevor was bold enough to ask passing strangers for help navigating the trail. Eventually he found someone willing to guide him through the mountains. Trevor would have the help of many strangers, but his greatest ally was a determined spirit. Injuries and exhaustion dogged him by the end of the hike in Maine. He pushed on and scaled the steep sides of Mount Katahdin, an incredible accomplishment for anyone.

Trevor's story is a good reminder that when life is difficult the best response is not always to run away. Some times we just need a way to see how strong we really are. Like Trevor, you don't have to face hardship alone. Contact us, your local agent, today. We can help you on your journey.
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Dealing With Disease

When 14-year-old Spencer Lane was diagnosed with Crohn's disease he found a unique way to cope with the frequent symptoms and interruptions to his schoolwork. Spencer and his parents decided to enroll him at the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center, a nearby campus of the Old Dominion University.

Rather than slowing down, this kid is speeding up and tackling a tough problem head on. He's smart enough to keep up in college level courses, but is enrolled part-time in order to manage his symptoms.

Besides his smarts and determination, Spencer is also an activist. Last year Spencer raised more than $6,000 for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.

Changes to his diet have reduced the vomiting that is common with the disease. More important than any conventional treatment is the fact that setting goals has allowed Spencer to push through a difficult circumstance and define himself by what he can accomplish, and not by the disease he has.
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Bet Your Life On It

Confronting the harsh reality of cancer may come in the form of a yellow wristband, pink ribbons, or, in the case of Jon Matthews, a chance to beat the odds in a very literal sense.

The 59 year old British widower placed a bet with a professional booking agency that is more used to dealing with sports than real life or death situations. When Jon told them that placing two bets at odds of 50 to 1 would help motivate him to fight mesothelioma, the agency agreed.

So far Jon has won 10,000 pounds and will be able to double that if he makes it to June 2010. He has promised to donate most of his winnings to charity.

While Jon's story won't serve as advice for everyone facing a crisis, it does illustrate the value of persistence and self-confidence. When you insure what matters you display the same type of confidence by making a bet that you can't lose.
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Rare Art Finds Home in Texas

Michelangelo is known to have painted only four oil paintings and now one of them, recently verified, will be on display at the Kimbell Museum of Fort Worth, Texas.

The museum director is calling it "one of the greatest rediscoveries in the history of art." The painting had previously been discredited by the art world and left in the hands of private collectors until last summer when an art dealer--whose sale price to the museum was not disclosed--brought the piece to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and had it examined.

Researchers were able to determine not only the authenticity, but almost the exact age of the painting. Apparently Michelangelo got his start as an art prodigy early, at age 12 or 13. Remember that parents: you may not always appreciate your child's "creativity," but someday it might be famous.

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Rapid Rescue

Finally, a heavy-duty crane is around when someone needs it!

17-year old Jordan Loomis and Zachary Word (presumably friends) got a lucky break after an accident in Georgetown Township (a moderately sized city in Michigan, population +45,000). Loomis ended up pinned under the Ford pickup truck after it rolled. Both teens were lucky to have survived, as neither had imagined that a seatbelt would come in handy that Wednesday morning.

A crane operator who happened to be in the area offered his services and helped police and firefighters remove the rolled truck, allowing both teens to quickly recieve medical attention.

This story could have had a much worse ending. The driver of the car that hit the teens was not injured and both young men are "in serious but stable condition" according to the local sheriff.
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Students Learn Math, Shapes, and Culture

Is math an important aspect of culture? If you were to ask 73 year old artist Esther Mahlangu, she would give you a resounding "Yes!"

Mahlangu, an artist from the Ndebele tribe of South Africa, has been teaching students at that country's largest science museum, the Sci-Bono, how ancient geometric artwork is tied to solving complex mathematical problems. The children of Johannesburg still face major life hurdles; even though they now live in a world free of apartheid, South Africa has a staggering 25% unemployment rate and educational opportunities are still limited for poor blacks.

Esther Mahlangu is a world recognized artist, but her primary concern is with passing on local traditions to disadvantaged youth. Her efforts, and the museum's outreach, are aiming to improve lives through meaningful education.
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(By the way, the word "bono" in "Sci-Bono" means "vision," no relation to the famous Irish popstar.)