Jonny Imerman
Jonny Imerman Adversity: Diagnosed with testicular cancer at age 26. Advocacy: Founded Imerman Angels to support people affected by cancer. “You start out in the beginning to help other people because it’s important with the short life we live. But...
Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg
Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg Adversity: Lost his young daughter to Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Advocacy: Founded Kids Kicking Cancer to teach cancer-stricken children the healing themes of martial arts "When people have a sense of purpose, they have control,...
Scott Fedor
Scott Fedor Adversity: Paralyzed from the neck down after a diving accident Advocacy: Founded Getting Back Up for others with spinal cord injuries "I draw so much strength from seeing how helping someone improves their life. … In a weird way, had this not...
Chris Trondsen
Chris Trondsen Adversity: Battled Body Dysmorphic Disorder and OCD Advocacy: Became a mental health advocate and clinician to help others with similar challenges “Helping others keeps me on my toes. I can’t talk about, ‘Hey, you should not give into your...
Sarah Allen Benton
Sarah Allen Benton Adversity: Sober from alcohol since 2004 Advocacy: Works with others struggling with addiction "Advocacy reinforces that I need to continue to work on bettering myself and committing to my own recovery. If I'm not sober, I can't be of...
Jeff Bell
We Help Ourselves by Helping Others Adversity: Battled severe and debilitating OCD Advocacy: Became a national spokesman for OCD and cofounded A2A "For me, adversity-driven advocacy offers the ultimate Greater Good...
Patti Lowery
Patti Lowery Adversity: Son and daughter both have OCD Advocacy: Co-founded Adversity 2 Advocacy and provides support for parents of children with OCD “When I see that I’ve helped someone it just lifts my spirits. I feel like I now have a focus in life, a...
Stephen Puibello
Stephen Puibello Adversity: Diagnosed with HIV and bipolar disorder in 1996 Advocacy: Became a mental health and HIV awareness advocate In 1996, just two months...
Mary Nicholson
Mary Nicholson Adversity: Suffered stroke & brain aneurysm in 2003 Advocacy: Founded Healings in Motion to support Northern California stroke victims "For me to be able to help other people... it has given me joy again. It has given me a sense of...
Denis Asselin
Denis Asselin Adversity: Lost Son, Nathaniel, who battled severe Body Dysmorphic Disorder Advocacy: Walked more than 500 miles, raising awareness about BDD "I felt as if walking was a way of pushing out the energy in a positive way – using the power of...
Shannon Shy
Shannon Shy Adversity: Battled OCD while on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps Advocacy: Published his OCD recovery story in “It’ll be Okay” “It has been extremely rewarding and very therapeutic trying to help other people. Maybe that’s the reason my...
Reverend Bill Hassel
Pastor Bill Hassel Adversity: Diagnosed with ALS in 2008 Advocacy: Founded the 5K Stroll, Roll ’n’ Run for ALS Research “No one knows or controls what life throws at you; with God's help, you can handle it and do something positive in spite of it.”...