| We have heard so many stories of people
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| | inspiration and symbol to allthose who
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| who were born with all kinds of handicaps
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| | are suffering from various disabilities,
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| and despite all the odds stacked against
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| | and who have lost hope.
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| them, they managed to create a life most
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| | The meaning he gave to his experience put
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| others can only dream about.
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| | him in a resourceful state. As he
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| Yet, many, despite being born with all
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| | continued to bear his massive disability
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| the money, advantages, resources and
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| | stoically and improve, bit by bit, he
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| opportunities choose to make nothing of
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| | started to write what went to become a
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| themselves. In fact, many of them end up
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| | best-selling book called 'Nothing is
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| destroying their lives.
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| | Impossible'.
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| Here are some examples.
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| | Though imprisoned in his body, Reeve gave
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| Oprah Winfrey - Street urchin to talk
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| | hundreds of moving speeches and inspiring
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| show host extraordinary. What would you
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| | seminars; he even directed a movie and
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| say of a child who was born to a single
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| | won an academy award.
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| 13-year-old mother who was struggling to
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| | Millions around the world have been
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| survive on the streets? What would you
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| | inspired by Reeve indomitable spirit and
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| say if I told you that this child became
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| | he has raised millions through the
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| the victim of multiple physical and
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| | Christopher Reeve foundation.
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| sexual abuses before the age of thirteen
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| | Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope
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| herself? She later became pregnant and
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| | Heard of Terry Fox, Canadian marathon
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| gave birth to a still-born baby.
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| | runner? Well, at 18 Terry was diagnosed
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| She often got into trouble with the law
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| | with cancer and had to have his right leg
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| before the age of fifteen. You wouldn't
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| | amputated.
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| bet too much hope on her future would
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| | Most people would see this as a tragedy
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| you? What if I told you that this person
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| | and never, in their wildest dreams, would
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| was Oprah Winfrey, one of the richest and
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| | they see themselves running. Not Terry
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| most successful women in the United
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| | Fox.
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| States? And she is an
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| | This courageous man decided that he would
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| Afro-American as well.
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| | use this experience to raise money for
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| Superman to Paraplegic...and now an
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| | cancer research and make a difference to
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| Inspiration to all
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| | all cancer sufferers. So, despite having
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| Now, think of Christopher Reeve. Many of
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| | only one leg, Terry started to run across
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| us remember Reeves as invincible
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| | Canada to raise a million dollars.
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| Superman. He not only had super strength
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| | Sadly, half way through his journey,
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| but super powers, he could literally fly.
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| | Terry contracted another cancer, this
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| More than that, Christopher Reeve had the
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| | time in his lungs. He was forced to stop
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| fantastic physique to make the role he
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| | his run and died on June 28, 1981.
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| played to super stardom, magical and
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| | However, because of the inspiration that
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| believable.
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| | his courage had created, he raised over
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| Then, in 1994, a tragic horse riding
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| | US$24 million for his cause.
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| accident left Reeve paralyzed from the
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| | Today, over $330 million has been raised
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| neck down for life! Initially, the
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| | around the world through the Terry Fox
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| meaning he attached to the accident was
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| | Marathon of Hope.
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| that his life was over and that he would
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| | In all of our lives, there will always
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| be a burden to everyone.
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| | come a time when things seem unfair, that
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| Utterly depressed Reeve wanted his
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| | no matter how hard we work for something,
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| doctors to take him off life support and
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| | we did not get what we believed we
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| allow him to die. It was his wife who
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| | deserved. It may even be a terrible
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| asked him to give himself (and his
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| | tragedy.
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| family) two years. If, at the end of the
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| | Many people allow events such as these to
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| two years, he felt the same way, they
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| | destroy theirself-esteem, their faith and
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| would find a way to let him go.
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| | belief about themselves and the essential
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| But as Reeve's rehabilitation began,
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| | goodness of others.
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| surrounded by his very loving and
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| | They allow these events to cripple them
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| supportive family and friends, he started
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| | forever in taking action. But there are
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| to attach a totally different meaning to
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| | always others who use what appeared to be
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| his disability. He began to see that he
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| | negative events/happenings to grow
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| (because of his fame) could become an
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| | stronger, wiser and more powerful.
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