1. Olympian Shows Kindness to Children by Selling Their Medal to Pay for Child’s Cancer Treatment.
Polish discus thrower Piotr Malachowski won a silver medal in Rio. Almost immediately, however, he put that medal up for auction to help fund a cancer treatment for a three-year-old boy.
According to ESPN’s In 2001, former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi was affected by the auto racing accident that lead to the amputation of both his legs. Now, the Italian is a four-time Paralympic champion hand cyclist.
Zanardi secured his third Paralympic gold (he won two in London in 2012) by winning the H5 time trial in Rio the day before the 15th anniversary of his crash. He was also part of the H2-H5 mixed team relay gold.Per Alex Wellman of Mirror, Zanardi said: “Normally I don’t thank God for these type of things as I believe God has more important stuff to worry about. But today is too much. I had to raise my eyes and thank him. I feel very lucky, I feel my life is a never-ending privilege.”, Malachowski’s goal was to raise enough money to ensure Olek Szymanski “could get surgery for his retinoblastoma in New York to try to save the child’s eyesight.”
Rovell reported that Polish foundation Siepomaga had raised about a third of the $126,000 needed for the surgery, and Malachowski hoped to raise the rest with the action.
Few minutes after the auction started, Malachowski announced on Facebook, per Rovell, that a wealthy Polish couple had committed to covering the remaining amount needed.
2. In 2007, Paralyzed Pregnant Woman Completes Half-Marathon Claire Lomas was thrown from a horse and instantly paralyzed from the chest down.Over five days in September, she completed a half-marathon in England with the help of a “robotic exoskeleton,” according to In 2001, former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi was involved in an auto racing accident that resulted in the amputation of both his legs. Now, the Italian is a four-time Paralympic champion hand cyclist.Zanardi secured his third Paralympic gold (he won two in London in 2012) by winning the H5 time trial in Rio the day before the 15th anniversary of his crash. He was also part of the H2-H5 mixed team relay gold.Per Alex Wellman of Mirror, Zanardi said: “Normally I don’t thank God for these type of things as I believe God has more important stuff to worry about. But today is too much. I had to raise my eyes and thank him. I feel very lucky, I feel my life is a never-ending privilege.” of ABC News, and raised money for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation in the process.
Lomas, who is also pregnant, told Thorbecke: “It is very hard work physically and mentally, particularly with my injury, as I have no core strength and no feeling from the chest down. I can’t even feel the ground. Each slope, bump, hill is a huge obstacle.”
Lomas added, per Thorbecke: “When I take something on, I am desperate to give it my all and complete it.”
3. Damon Hodges Plays Football on Prosthetic Legs
Damon Hodges had his legs amputated below the knees at age two, according to Greg Gulas of the Vindicator, and he has been wearing prosthetics ever since.
Hodges is also a defensive end on the Liberty High School varsity football team in Ohio. The Ohio High School Athletic Association approved Liberty’s request to allow Hodges to play after the school provided every requirements on its plans for safety precautions.
Hodges told Gulas, “Many told me that I would never walk or have a normal life, but today mylife is the opposite of what they said. Things actually worked out for me.”
Gulas also reported Hodges’ dreams of playing in the NFL one day.
4. Football Team Gives Roses to Cheerleader with Leukemia
Ashley Adamietz, a cheerleader at Foothill High School in Palo Cedro, California, was diagnosed with leukemia in August.
Prior to a September football game, all 57 members of the Foothill team gave Adamietz an orange rose—orange for leukemia awareness.
According to KRCR (via Zanardi of CNN), player Ryan Caetano organized the tribute, saying: “She’s part of the cougar family, so why not let her know that we’re all here for her. We are. So I wanted to let that be known to everybody, and especially to her, for what she’s going through.”
5. After a Hopeless Predicament, Alex Zanardi Wins Gold, 15 Years
In 2001, former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi was involved in an auto racing accident which led to amputation of both his legs. Now, the Italian is a four-time Paralympic champion hand cyclist.
Zanardi secured his third Paralympic gold (he won two in London in 2012) by winning the In 2001, former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi was involved in an auto racing accident that lead to the amputation of both his legs. Now, the Italian is a four-time Paralympic champion hand cyclist.
Zanardi secured his third Paralympic gold (he won two in London in 2012) by winning the H5 time trial in Rio the day before the 15th anniversary of his crash. He was also part of the H2-H5 mixed team relay gold.Per Alex Wellman of Mirror, Zanardi said: “Honestly, Most times I don’t thank God for these type of things as I believe God has more crucial things to worry about. But today is too much. I had to raise my eyes and thank him. I feel very favoured, I feel my life is a never-ending gift.” in Rio the day before the 15th anniversary of his crash. He was also part of the H2-H5 mixed team relay gold.
Per In 2001, former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi was affected by the auto racing accident that led to the amputation of both his legs. Now, the Italian is a four-time Paralympic champion hand cyclist.
