There are many second chance stories in progress. Some people
have just realized that they have received a second chance. Others are
in the middle of doing something productive with them. Some have had
success and are finding ways to give back. All are inspiring and motivating in their
own ways.
Statue silhouettes at Silent Witness Awareness ceremony to call attention to domestic violence.
In Toms River, NJ, life-sized
wooden silhouettes are on display representing victims of domestic violence, as
part of Domestic Violence Awareness month.
Lisa Simpson, a
near-death domestic violence victim and speaker at the Ocean County Library ceremony, said she is grateful to have a
second chance and does not intend to waste that opportunity...
APP.com; article by Margaret
F. Bonafide; photographer: Bob Bielk
David Heim, 47, wheelchair bound from a car
accident, continues to build his life by helping refurbish and customize wheelchairs
for others, even for people who have difficulty paying.
Laird, who lives in a dilapidated trailer, weeds and waters the plants and helps harvest the produce.
From
homeless and hopeless to feeding others, Mickie Laird finds stability and
purpose in a community garden.
After getting involved with the food bank at Nativity Lutheran's Church, Laird , 51, told The Bulletin: "It's been giving me a lot of peace.
... I'm really enjoying this. It's a good feeling to be able
to help somebody, kind of like the church helped me."
Thesesa Kashale, teaches at Hawthorne Elementary School, gives second chances on two continents
In Toms River, NJ, life-sized
wooden silhouettes are on display representing victims of domestic violence, as
part of Domestic Violence Awareness month.
Lisa Simpson, a
near-death domestic violence victim and speaker at the Ocean County Library ceremony, said she is grateful to have a
second chance and does not intend to waste that opportunity.
APP.com; article by Margaret
F. Bonafide; photographer: Bob Bielk
Meghan Ferguson of Halifax, who has raised $15,000 for cancer, is poised to make a 5,000-kilometre cycling journey from Vancouver to Austin, Texas.
Cancer ride helps daughter overcome grief.
Meghan Fegusen lost her father to pancreatic cancer three years ago. The ride is healing and helping her.
Ferguson raised the most money for Give to Live, a fundraising bike ride
from Vancouver to Austin, Texas, ending at the Lance Armstrong Foundation's
LiveStrong Challenge weekend in Austin.For her fundraising efforts, she was awarded a luncheon and bike ride
with Mr. Armstrong, but passed it on to 14-year-old Peter Gatti from Toronto.
Ferguson told The Chronicle Herald: "His life has been difficult so far and if I
could give that to him, then I am more excited to meet this little kid than
Lance Armstrong...For me personally, it (is) a way to come
full circle and to help that healing process..."
Volunteers from Northeastern State University in Honduras
Glasses provide a second
chance to 460 people in Honduras, one pair at a time.
Optometry students and Dr.
Alissa Proctor, an associate professor at Northeastern State University, went
to the beautiful island of Honduras to bring vision care to those who have
none. "The leading cause of preventable blindness in third world countries is
lack of glasses," Proctor told MuskogeePhoenix.com.
