Community Corner

Feeling a Bit Down? 5 Things to Help Inspire You

Yes, everyday life can be a challenge. Need some inspiration from those who "climbed a mountain?"

Is daily life so tough?

Well, yes, it can be.

Here, though, is to keeping things in perspective. For more than a month now, Patch and Grape-Nuts have teamed up to in this series, Journeys, to present stories about people—neighbors or strangers—who have faced challenges that would seem insurmountable to many of us.

Not surprisingly, the stories have generated dozens of comments on Patch and on Facebook: "Great story..." "Thanks for sharing..." "So wonderfully inspiring..." And, so, here we share a handful of them again. Take a look at the challenges these people have faced. Then click on the headline to see their responses. And, feel better about things.

Eradicating Polio Around the Globe

Child by child, vaccination by vaccination, the men and women of Rotary International are getting something done no one thought possible. They're eliminating poliomeylitis, a disease mostly eradicated in this country but still striking children around the globe. George Camp of Ossining has been part of this fight for two decades. 

Survivor Rides for Other Young Women with Breast Cancer

Jamie Pleva Nickerson was diagnosed with an aggressive, hereditary cancer as her sister was losing the battle. Now a 4-year survivor, she leads a team of cyclists every year in the Tour de Pink and volunteers for the Young Survival Coalition. 

Mom Channels Grief Into Crusade for Safe Driving

Lynn Riordan's son Matt went speeding down a road in his hometown a couple of weeks before high school graduation. He died when his car flipped and hit a tree. She used the energy born of his story and her grief to found Matt's Mission Fund, to help teens in need and their families, and to educate young drivers about destructive habits.

Saving Children with Sophisticated but Simple Surgeries

A doctor able to command the most modern medical technology takes his expertise to the Third World once a year. Dr. Michael Koch doesn't just help people in countries like Ghana, he teaches their doctors how to help when he's not there. 

Mary Ann Wasil: Changing the World One Girl at a Time

The Daisy Wheel is a clever educational tool to teach young women about self-education. Read the founder of The Get in Touch Foundation talking about her quest to help young girls and women around the world protect themselves against breast cancer.

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