Huntsville’s Carrabba’s restaurant kept public safety workers fed in tornado’s aftermath

Posted by Milenna Pessôa

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – After the tornadoes roared trough on April 27, there was power outage, people couldn’t work, and most of them had nothing to eat, at that point it was all hands on deck for local public safety workers, and the big concern was, how to feed them all?

The Police Chief Mark Hudson said:

“They were working hard to figure that out, then the good Lord sent along Chris Tucker.”

Manager of Carrabba’s Italian Grill at Parkway Place Mall, Tucker, offered to cook up the food in the restaurant for police, firefighters, paramedics, sheriff’s deputies, public works crew and anyone else involved with recovery efforts.

Carrabba’s dished up around 8.000 free meals in the mall’s parking deck, between April 28 and May 3, when power was restored to most of Madison County.

The restaurant’s employees cooked from mid-morning until 11pm, daily, and then boxed up the leftovers, so cops on third shift wouldn’t go hungry.

“It’s part of what got us through the tornado,” Hudson said. “It just filled a void we needed at the time we needed it most.”

City Administrator Rex Reynolds said that “For them to intensify and help public safety was massive”.

Hudson gave Tucker a public thank-you, as well as the police department’s certificate of appreciation, at a recent Huntsville City Council meeting.

“You just can’t beat people who step up like that,” he said.

Nykael Stewart, first assistant at the restaurant, said they believe in “taking care of our friends and family.”

“We had workers that were sitting home with nothing to do” because of the power outage, Stewart said Friday. “We just felt like we could give them something to do and take care of the community also.”

With information of Alabama Local News.

 

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Quadriplegic Crosses 730 Miles of Australian Desert In A Wheelchair

Posted by Stephanie Yip

Rob Cook, the first person to cross Australia’s Tanimi Desert in a wheelchair, has been awarded Local Hero of 2012 in Australia’s Northern Territory.

Rob Cook, 30, is an Australian farmer who was rendered a C4 quadriplegic after a helicopter accident in 2008. Despite this setback, Cook has remained an active member of the Australian farming industry and continues to inspire injured farmers to continue contributing to the agricultural industry.

This year, Cook became the 255th scholar in this jubilee year to be awarded the the Nuffield Scholorship, a travelling scholarship scheme for British and Empire farmers. This scholarship will take him to New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, USA, Canada and Scotland to study innovation and technology in the beef industry.

To fund this scholarship, raise awareness of farmers in wheelchairs and inspire other injured farmers to remain active in the farming industry, Cook took up the Tanami Desert Challenge. This began on 24 May 2011 and saw him travel 730 kilometres through the Australian outback in his wheelchair from Suplejack Downs to Alice Springs.

Riding at 6 kilometres an hour and averaging 36 kilometres per day, Cook completed this challenge within 24 days. He was joined by his childhood friend Luke Bevan.

Trials and tribulations of the journey:

“The weather has been certainly the hardest hurdle we’ve passed. As it turned out, we picked the most miserable time of the year to do it,” he said.

“We started out and the weather was quite warm and we put up with the dust and the flies. Then we got a strong southerly breeze that tried to blow us off the road.

“Then we had two days in the rain… and then it just came in windy and cold. I’ve been putting blankets on my wheelchair to keep the ice off it. Two days ago… all the tips of my toes had frostbite on them.”

Of the journey:

“I hoped that me being stuck out in the middle of the desert would help those Australians with a disability who work on farms to not just sit around and think your life is over if you have had an accident,” he said.

On 10 November 2011 Cook was awarded the Northern Territory Local Hero 2012 award. He is now a finalist for the national Australian of the Year awards which will be announced on 25 January 2012.

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Charity ‘Zumbathon’ in memory of extraordinary young fundraiser raises over £3000

Posted by Alex Bowell

Held on Sunday 13th November at All Saints’ Academy in Cheltenham, the three hour marathon of the Latin American ‘Zumba’ dance work-out continued the work of Rosie Kilburn, the founder of the charity website The Knock On Effect, who sadly passed away on 12th September, aged 19.

Diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer in 2008 at the age of 16, Rosie decided to set up a ‘sustainable fundraising business’ which could:

‘break the taboo of cancer by getting people to talk about it.’

The project was funded through an art auction organised by Rosie, in which over 400 donated artworks were sold, generating an impressive £10,000.   The proceeds were used to set up The Knock On Effect, a website, blog and shop which sells a range of t-shirts, tea-towels, Christmas cards and other craft items.

With phrases such as ‘girls get cancer too’ and ‘CANCER: Completely Annoying, Never Caring, Exhausting Rhino’, these products are quirky and eye-catching.  In Rosie’s own words:

“The messages [on the t-shirts] are designed to be positive, and I know they are also controversial.  I didn’t want to shy away from telling people about cancer.”

In addition to her fundraising, Rosie was featured in a poster campaign for V.org, a charity that aims to inspire altruism and volunteering in the younger generations.  The posters, supporting the caption ‘Good for nothing’, seek to challenge popular misconceptions of teenagers as trouble-makers.  Rosie explained her support of the project as:

“Young people generally only really get bad press and I don’t like how it is always focused on the negative.  It’s a small minority of us who cause trouble; why not look at the good things?”

Thanks to the hard-work of friends, family and well-wishers, last Sunday’s Zumbathon has almost reached its target of £4,000.  The funds will be donated to Rosie’s favourite charity, Hope Support Services, which helps young people through family health crises.

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Million-to-One Chance Saves Dying Baby

Posted by Bob Duffield

It was a million-to-one chance that saved her baby’s life when a frantic mother rushed out into the street looking for help.

At that very moment First Aider Naa Kai Laryea, 16, just happened to be walking past her door in Hackney, London.

The teenager took the unconscious 14-month-old from her arms and applied immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation – which she had learned on a St Johns Ambulance course at her local church just a few weeks before.

Mother Gianna Gudsell, 35,  told the Standard that her son, Hector, had slipped and hit his head while she was washing him in the bath:

“He stopped breathing and he had his eyes open. Honestly, I thought he was gone. She grabbed the baby from my arms. It was like she was a doctor – I thought she was much older.”

Leaving the Hector in the care of the teenager, Mrs Gudsell went to ring her husband while another passer-by called an ambulance.

“While I was screaming, ‘Where’s the ambulance?’ Naa Kai said she thought he was coming back, and his eyes went normal. The ambulance arrived very quickly but it was essential she was there.”

The ambulance crew congratulated the teenager on her fast action. Hector was taken to Homerton Hospital after the drama on Monday last week, where he fell into a coma before recovering.

Naa Kai said:

“Because I knew what to do, I wasn’t scared. As soon as I heard the baby was not breathing I just took charge. He was freezing cold, then his heart started beating really fast. I was calm – but calmer when I heard his heartbeat.”


 

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Lady GaGa Founds Youth Empowerment Charity

Posted by Simon Cooper

Lady GaGa has established a youth foundation aimed at fighting intolerance and establishing ‘a standard of bravery and kindness’.

The flamboyant star announced plans for her Born This Way Foundation on Twitter:

“I’m proud to announce: My mommy + I have created “The Born This Way Foundation” A place for Bravery, Love, Acceptance.”

The foundation will be co-run by Lady GaGa’s mother, Cynthia Germanotta, and launch in 2012.

The Born This Way Foundation aims to abolish intolerance of individuality, embrace humanity and build “a brave new world”.

Lady GaGa explained in a Facebook statement:

“Lady GaGa proudly announces the launch of the Born This Way Foundation (BTWF), which will support programmes and initiatives that deal with all aspects of empowering youth.

“The non-profit charitable organisation will lead youth into a braver new society where each individual is accepted and loved as the person they were born to be.”

The statement added:

“BTWF will focus on youth empowerment and equality by addressing issues like self-confidence, wellbeing, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development and will utilize digital mobilization as one of the means to create positive change.”

The star went on to say:

“My mother and I have initiated a passion project. We call it the Born This Way Foundation. Together we hope to establish a standard of bravery and kindness, as well as a community worldwide that protects and nurtures others in the face of bullying and abandonment.”

The BTWF website is currently displaying the message:

“This Way, towards bravery… where youth are empowered. This way, towards acceptance… where humanity is embraced. This way, towards love… where individuality is encouraged.”

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Turkey Earthquake Survivors Rescued After 100 Hours Buried Alive

Posted by Simon Cooper

Even amid the tragedy of the earthquake in Eastern Turkey that has so far claimed the lives of more than 600 people, stories of hope emerge.

Two survivors – a 13 year-old boy and an 18 year-old – were pulled alive from the rubble of the devastated area after more than four days buried.

Serhat Tokay was pulled from the ruins of an apartment building in the town of Eccris, which bore the brunt of last week’s 7.2 magnitude quake.

Also rescued a few hours earlier was Imdat Padak, who apart from suffering dehydration, was pulled alive and well from another wrecked building by cheering rescue workers.

According to the Daily Mail, 13 year-old Serhat helped to dig himself out of the collapsed building using a rock and was miraculously discovered after rescuers told his father there was ‘no hope’ of finding him alive.

The boy, Serhat Tokay, had been working in a shoe shop in the building. He was put in a neck brace and taken on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance.

His uncle Sahin said his nephew had placed shoes under his head and used them as a pillow to sleep, peering through a tiny gap to distinguish between day and night.
He added: ‘He was hungry on the first day, but the hunger pangs later disappeared. He drank rain water to keep him alive.’

Serhat was the second person to be found within a matter of hours after a severely dehydrated Imdat Padak, 18, was brought out on Thursday evening to cheers among grief-stricken survivors.

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Stars Come Out For Rainforest Charity

Posted by Simon Cooper

The Rainforest Foundation UK, a charity formed by the singer Sting, has announced a new Christmas online celebrity auction.

12 Days of Christmas is a celebrity-studded fundraiser for the foundation, whose mission is to support: “indigenous peoples and traditional populations of the world’s rainforest to protect their rainforest homes and fulfill their rights to land, life and livelihood.”

Stars from the worlds of music, movies and fashion have pledged their support to the auction by donating gifts that will be auctioned off on eBay starting November 15.

Last year, stars such as Sting, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Kylie Minogue and Vivienne Westwood donated goodies for the cause.

Kylie Minogue: supporting rainforest protection

You can keep track of the auction – and see previews of the gifts up for grabs – by checking in on the foundation’s website or their Facebook page.

The auction will run for 12 days, with gifts shipped to the winners by December 7th.

 

 

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Prince William Supports Epic Polar Charity Race

Posted by Simon Cooper

Six British soldiers have set out on a remarkable mission to re-trace the journeys of Captain Scott and Roald Amundsen in their bid to be the first to the South Pole in 1911/12.

The Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race aims to celebrate the centenary of this significant British event, as well as to raise funds for The Royal British Legion’s Personnel Recovery Centers.

Each team of three soldiers will follow the routes taken by Scott and Amundsen.

The Amundsen team is being led by Lt Col Henry Worsley, who led the Shackleton Centenary Expedition in 2008/09 – a 920 mile unsupported journey to the South Pole. The team’s other members are Staff Sergeant Lennie Browne and Warrant Officer Lou Rudd. The Scott team is being led by Warrant Officer Mark Langridge, who  completed a 750 mile solo and unsupported journey to the South Pole in 2008/09. The team’s other members are Staff Sergeants Vic Vicary and Kevin Johnson.

“I am proud to be Patron of The Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race,” says the Duke of Cambridge. “This extraordinary adventure will remind us of the immense and inspirational challenges faced by Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Roald Amundsen and their teams in the name of exploration. The world benefited from their heroism and it is right that we remember their enduring story and achievements.

“Six serving members of the British Army are taking on this expedition, and I am delighted that they have chosen to support the Royal British Legion in its 90th anniversary year. The Centenary Race will, for the first time, retrace the original routes of Scott-Amundsen without any outside assistance, reliving what remains a defining moment in polar exploration. This fitting tribute exemplifies the courage, determination and pioneering spirit shown by early 20th Century explorers, and which lives on today in the British Armed Forces.

“The Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race is a remarkable adventure, which will be a test of character, strength and resilience. I urge you to join me in supporting both teams to achieve their goal.”

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Reese Witherspoon Raises Breast Cancer Awareness

Posted by Simon Cooper

Reese Witherspoon was a special guest at the ninth annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Closing Ceremony in New York on Sunday October 16, where she thanked walkers, crew and supporters for their incredible commitment to the cause.

Ms. Witherspoon is actively involved in children’s and women’s advocacy organizations. She is a long-time supporter of Save the Children, serves of the Board of the Children’s Defense Fund and, since 2007, has served as the honorary chair of the Avon Foundation, a charitable organization that supports women and focuses on breast cancer research and the prevention of domestic violence.

The Avon Walk New York raised more than $8.4 million to advance access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, which is added to the more than $400 million raised by the Avon Walks since 2003. The Walk attracted 3,500 participants from 42 states, Washington, D.C., and six countries–including Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Denmark and Switzerland–along with 430 men and 444 breast cancer survivors.

Witherspoon greeted walkers on stage at the Closing Ceremony congratulating them for finishing their weekend-long, 39.3-mile journey:

“I’m so happy to be back at the Avon Walk and once again I’m absolutely amazed at what you all just did,” said Witherspoon. “Walking all those miles and raising all that money—you’re all incredible!”

During the Closing Ceremony at Hudson River Park’s Pier 84, Liz Dente, a three-year breast cancer survivor and Team Avon walker from New Rochelle, NY, spoke movingly about her breast cancer diagnosis and journey through treatment:

“I’m a planner and breast cancer was certainly not in the master plan of my busy life. But then things changed. One day I was worried about corporate systems analysis, the next I was worried about who could best raise my kids with my husband after I’m gone. Our kids were 6 and 9 years old and we were determined that 2008 was not going to be the year that mommy got breast cancer. It was going to be the year of first grade and fourth grade; the year of no training wheels and diving off the diving board. That thinking—our ‘new normal’—saved all of us, because even while I dealt with all the procedures, surgery, chemo and exhaustion, my number one goal in this battle has been to keep my kids’ lives as carefree as possible. Now, as I stand here before you, exhausted but exhilarated from completing my third Avon Walk New York, my husband and kids are here with me. Because of their love and support and the incredible medical care I’ve been lucky enough to receive, I’m able to raise them myself…as a breast cancer survivor.”

To ensure the funds raised immediately benefit the community, Witherspoon presented more than $9.1 million in grants during the Closing Ceremony. More grants are slated to be awarded throughout the year to breast cancer programs.

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Homeless Hero in Line for George Medal

Posted by Bob Duffield

A dramatic life-saving rescue by a homeless man could win him the George Medal from Her Majesty the Queen.

Adan Abobaker,38, risked his own life jumping into the icy Thames to save a suicidal woman.

A temporary resident at St Mungo’s hostel, Adan, heard a scream as the young woman jumped into the river near Blackfriars Bridge.

He immediately dived in without any thought for his own safety, swam out to grab the drowning woman and successfully pulled her to the shore.  She was rushed to hospital suffering from hypothermia but survived her ordeal.

According to a report in the London Evening Standard:

“Adan dived into the freezing, treacherous currents. He swallowed lots of water and could have easily drowned. To save the life of another person, he put his own life in danger. It was an act of selfless heroism. His actions went far beyond what most of us would dare.” said Human Rights Campaigner Peter Tatchell.

Tatchell is pressing the Prime Minister to put Adan forward for the George Medal – the second highest civil decoration in the UK.  Downing Street confirmed that Adan’s case is “under consideration”.

After his heroics, Adan returned to the river only to find someone had stolen his jumper and a tea flask.

Want Adan to get the George Medal? Why not email UK Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street? 

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