Extreme Courage

Many people do stuff to make a difference. Some though have more reason not to and yet find the courage to ensure that they nevertheless do make a difference. These are the people who face their dragon knowing they cannot win and that ultimately it will defeat them. People such as Roy Castle (who lent his name to the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and raised millions of pounds during the last years of his life), Helen Rollason (again had cancer, fought it to the end and raised awareness and cash as well as having a BBC Sports Personality Award named in her honour and establishing her own charity) and Jane Tomlinson who despite having cancer raised millions of pounds through some amazing challenges including the London Marathon, Lands End to John O'Groats cycle, UK Half Ironman and many others.

Another example was Ivan Noble. Ivan was a science and technology reporter for the BBC. On being diagnosed with a brain tumour he didn't disappear quietly, but set about documenting his journey through treatment, the highs and the lows. It became a weekly ritual for myself and many others to read his entry (the first entry can be found here) and I was desperately hoping for a happy ending that never came (the final entry is here and the book containing all the entries is here).

More recently, there has been coverage of Huntington's disease in the press, particularly the fact that this genetic disease is more prevalent than originally thought. Charles Sabine is a former war reporter who again has confronted his dragon and is using his own battle with the disease to raise awareness. What is it that gives these people the strength and courage to both battle their disease and also have the courage, motivation and strength to raise awareness at the same time?

There are more examples! I have just started reading a book about a guy who was only given a year to live. His response? He went out and rode Lands End to John O'Groats.

I may be dying but I've done what you can only dream of doing. I am the vigilante leading this World to a better future [Ten Bodies, Two Bikes and a Boil, Chris Gooderham]

Finally, The Times recently ran a story about a guy called Patrick Joyce. He has motor neurone disease but as well as having a web page called Patrick the Incurable Optimist where he reports on his day to day life and encourages others to make a difference, he is also setting himself a target of 100 portraits of people that make a difference before his hands no longer allow him to work. His very first portrait was of his wife, Kathy. The wording is just beautiful...

Kath is supportive, loving and caring. Without her I would be lost. The writing in her hair is something she said to me when I was first diagnosed, “I will always look after you, right until the very end."
[I hope having this pic will increase the traffic to Patricks page. If I need to remove it please tell me]

Many people in this World do nothing to make a difference. Many of us try in a small way. And then there are those who have the courage to make a real difference.