


Diagnosed with ALS in 2007
Founded "Corey's Crusade" to give voice to ALS sufferers
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2001
Became national speaker & trainer for The National Alliance on Mental Illness
Their stories of turning adversity
into advocacy will inspire you!
Browse through our collection of inspiring stories from our incredible advocates.



Katherine Switz
Jul 24, 2014 | Advocate, Bipolar Disorder
Katherine Switz Adversity: Diagnosed with Bipolar I Advocacy: Started a nonprofit that recruits community leaders to talk about their mental illness “It’s empowering to come out of the shadows. It’s great to see our impact on leaders and their impact on...
Protected: Ryan Sykes
Jun 17, 2014 | Advocate
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Jonny Imerman
May 18, 2014 | Advocate, Cancer
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
Apr 6, 2014 | Advocate, Cancer, Grief & Loss
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
Jan 28, 2014 | Advocate, Paralysis
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...
Protected: Barbara Claypole White
Jan 28, 2014 | Advocate, New OCD
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Chris Trondsen
Jan 28, 2014 | Advocate, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, OCD
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
Jan 28, 2014 | Addiction, Advocate, Alcoholism
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
Jan 28, 2014 | Advocate, OCD, Parkinson's Disease
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
Jan 27, 2014 | Advocate, Bipolar Disorder, HIV/AIDS
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
Jan 27, 2014 | Advocate, Stroke
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...