Healthy Hip-Hop: Volunteer Uses Rap To Promote Health [VIDEO]

 

Watch this story: Volunteer Uses Hip-Hop To Promote Health

 Is there such a thing as hip-hop healthy? James Christos says, “Yes.”

 The local hip-hop artist told KMBC’s Maria Antonia that he uses his psychology degree to promote better health in the community. He counsels people with mental health issues and volunteers at a couple of health facilities.  

Christos said, “I’m a rap artist, but I’m here promoting urban health relief programs.”

 At the Samuel U Rodgers Health Center, Christos brings his message to young African-American men to live a healthier life. His songs are meant to show his listeners how to keep themselves healthy mentally, and how to look at themselves in a positive light.

 The 33-year-old rap artist said he’s “trying to make sure we’re taking care of ourselves.”

 He talks to people at health centers and also privately counsels patients who have mental health issues. Christos said he wants his music to address more mental health concerns, such as depression.

Christos said he knows that rapping about eating celery and lettuce would not be entertaining. His primary goal is to reach his audience and present his message in a way that’s fun.

 He will be taking his message on a multi-city tour in June. 

Man Runs From California To Georgia Raising Funds For Juvenile Arthritis [VIDEO]

Patrick McGlade is running a marathon. But you won’t find a pack of competitors in front of him or behind him. He’s running this one alone. He’s raising awareness and money for juvenile arthritis.

The idea came to him when he was running a marathon. Actually I was in the middle of a 24 hour race and I decided well if I can run for 24 hours straight, I think I can run a marathon a day. That’s when I started looking for charities,” says McGlade.

The Arthritis Foundation welcomed him with open arms. The charity has been there every step of the way lining up support, food and shelter for McGlade.

“For the most part, it’s been a very good experience.”

But very challenging, says McGlade. He runs 30 miles a day. He stops to take photographs along the way. He was drawn to a sign on the 13th Street Bridge recognizing the 2006 Little League World Series Champions from Columbus. Once he snapped his photos, it was back to work.

McGlade’s Huntington Beach, California to Tybee Island, Georgia run is expected to end April 23rd. His goal is to raise $50,000. So far McGlade has raised $17,000. To see photos of his journey, his route, and to donate, visit http://patricksrunblog.blogspot.com/

SOURCE: Man Runs From California To Georgia Raising Funds For Juvenile Arthritis

Woman Opening Up Food Bank for Pets [VIDEO]

We have all heard of food banks and the impact they make on our community, but how about a pantry for pets?

It is the idea of Newberry’s Star Chappell, who within the last year learned about the special gift of owning
an animal.

“He’s truly changed my life, I mean he opened up my heart. I just never had to care for something that needed me that much,” said Chappell of her cat Trainor.

Last year Chappell was going through a very difficult time in her life when she found an  abandoned and very sick outside her restaurant.

She took him to a vet, where he needed a blood  transfusion and lots of tender loving care.

The cat’s name is Trainor and he’s all better now.

 
For as much as the animal needed a friend, Chappell did too.

Watch this story: Midlands Woman Opening Up Food Bank for Pets

Kate And Leo help last Titanic survivor

“Titanic” stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet have pledged to help the last survivor of the sinking of the ocean liner.

The stars say they have thrown their support behind a fund that would subsidize Millvina Dean’s nursing home fees.

Dean was 2 months old when the Titanic sank beneath the waves on the night of April 14, 1912. She has been living at a nursing home in the English city of Southampton since she broke her hip about three years ago but has struggled to pay the fees.

In October she sold several Titanic mementoes to raise cash.

DiCaprio and Winslet said in a statement that they hoped Dean could rest easier knowing that her future was secure. The Millvina Fund was launched Monday in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Read more: Kate And Leo help last Titanic survivor

Bike bell ringers break world record for charity [Video]

Over the past year, Leson Dunkley and her family have had a tough time. She was diagnosed with breast cancer around the time when her own mother died of the same affliction. But, Saturday they had a moment that may live in history.

“I think it’s beautiful. I think it makes it a more important record to break,” said Alys Hansen, one of Dunkley’s four children.

A total of 690 people turned up at New Vista High School Saturday to form the world’s largest bicycle bell ensemble of all time. They were divided in groups based on the sounds of their bells and played several songs including, “You are my sunshine,” and “She’ll be comin’ ’round the mountain.”

Each participant paid an entry fee which went directly to help Dunkley and her four children ages 10 to 19. Hansen says medical expenses have been mounting and they were in danger of losing their home.

Dunkley is going through her third round of chemotherapy. She is a teacher at the Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies. Last year, one month after she found out about her own breast cancer, her mother passed away.

Hansen says the outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming.

“There are so many beautiful, loving people and that are so willing to give,” said Hansen.

The previous world record was 503 bicycle bell ringers, set by a small town in Germany. ‘The Guinness Book of World Records’ requires that the ensemble must play a recognizable song for at least five minutes. The effort in Boulder is the unofficial record till it is confirmed by Guinness.

“I think it’s an exciting incentive,” said Hansen. “It’s one of those things when I was a kid, you read the ‘Guinness Book of World Records’ and you never imagine you get to be a part of one. And, then here it is and I’m in the middle of it.”

The event raised a total of $18,298 for the family including a $2,500 grant from a local non-profit group called The Beanstalk Foundation.

“We love our mom so very much and we are so glad that this has happened, so grateful” said Hansen. “I don’t know how to articulate that any more than we are grateful.”

Read more and watch this story: Bike bell ringers break world record for charity

Girl’s dream to end childhood hunger gets national attention [Video]

Here’s one from one of my friends, Joey Sovine.

Ten-year-old Katie Stagliano dreams to end childhood hunger across the world.

The 4th grader from Pinewood Preparatory School in Summerville was recently featured in NBC Nightly News “Making a difference” segment.

Her dream began in her backyard where a 3rd grade project turned into a 40 pound cabbage.

“We decided that my cabbage was too special to be eaten so I contacted the organization fields to family. They are an organization that brings extra crops from farmer’s fields and other places to people in need and they told us that Family Crisis Ministries’ soup kitchen would greatly appreciate it,” explained Katie.

The 40 pound cabbage went on to feed over 275 people and triggered a dream that is spreading throughout her school.

With help from environmental science teacher Michael Newman, a garden has been constructed on the school’s property where Katie’s classmates help to grow food for the homeless.

Katie has now helped to feed over 800 people and hopes to inspire more people to grow food for those less fortunate.

Watch this story: Summerville kid dreams to end childhood hunger

Superhero patrols streets fighting crime [Video]

Here is great one sent to us from a reader!

Cincinnati police have a new ally in their fight against crime, whether they want it or not.

 

He calls himself Shadow Hare, and he wears a mask and a cape to conceal his true identity. He’s Cincinnati’s own version of a superhero fighting crime and injustice where he finds it.

 

“We help enforce the law by doing what we can in legal standards, so we carry handcuffs, pepper spray … all the legal weapons,” said Shadow Hare. “We will do citizen’s arrests. We will intervene on crimes if there is one happening in front of us.”

 

The man behind Shadow Hare’s mask is 21 years old and from Milford. Those are the only clues to his true identity that he will reveal. Shadow Hare said he was abused as a child and grew up in foster homes, perhaps leading him to a life helping others.

 

“My message to Cincinnati is that there is still hope and all we have to do is stand together,” he said.

 

Shadow Hare is not alone in his quest to fight crime. He heads up a group of men — and one woman — called the “Allegiance of Heroes.” The members communicate with each other in online forums. Among the members are Aclyptico in Pennsylvania, Wall Creeper in Colorado and Master Legend in Florida.

 

“I’ve even teamed up with Mr. Extreme in California — San Diego — and we were trying to track down a rapist,” said Shadow Hare.

 

The crime fighters will often pair up to patrol the streets. Even so, fighting crime comes with its share of hardship.

 

Shadow Hare said he suffered a dislocated shoulder two years ago while trying to help a woman who was being attacked.

 

And the authorities don’t always take him seriously. In one encounter with a Hamilton County corrections officer, Shadow Hare was greeted with a chuckle and a look of disbelief.

 

But Shadow Hare said he and his team are not deterred by the criticism. He remains focused on trying to make Cincinnati a better place, whether it’s fighting crime or feeding the homeless.

 

For now, the law is on Shadow Hare’s side.

 

It is legal in Ohio and Kentucky to make a citizens arrest, however, the arrester does face possible civil litigation if the person arrested turns out to be innocent.

Read more: Cincinnati Superhero Patrols Streets Fighting Crime

Mystery woman hands out $100 bills at coffee shop

A mystery woman drove around Edmonton handing out $100 bills Tuesday in coffee shops.

“She left us with our mouths hanging open,” said Karen Wentland, who watched her friend get one of the bills at Tim Hortons at South Edmonton Common.

Other callers to Global News and a radio station reporting seeing people get the bills in a Tim Hortons in Terwilligar, on Whyte Avenue and in South Edmonton Common.

For Wentland, a stay-at-home mom, and her friend Lorraine Weslosky, a substitute teacher’s aide, the surprise happened at about 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

The two were sitting with their backs to the window and didn’t notice the woman until she was standing beside them, but a man nearby saw a black limousine stop outside the door and watched the woman beeline to Weslosky.

She reached down to shake Weslosky’s hand, then said, “I just want to wish you a happy spring,” and handed her the crisp $100 bill.

“I just sat there with my hands open. I didn’t know what to think,” Weslosky said.

The woman had long, black hair, wore dark sunglasses and a bright pink shirt or blazer. She looked about 50, said Wentland. A man standing beside the mystery woman motioned for them to leave, and they walked through the restaurant, out a second door and got into the waiting limousine.

Weslosky watched them drive away.

She has no idea why she was chosen, or why the woman was handing out money. “Just a lady with a kind heart who wants to make people happy,” she said.

She doesn’t know what she’ll buy with the money either, she said. “Something to remember her by.”

Read more: ‘Happy spring,’ as mystery woman hands out $100 bills

‘Anne Frank tree’ saplings may be planted in U.S.

Saplings from the tree Anne Frank used to measure the seasons while hiding from the Nazis could be planted in 10 cities around the United States.

The Anne Frank Center USA wants to plant the trees in 10 U.S. cities to symbolize the growth of tolerance.

The one-metre saplings would come from an ailing horse chestnut tree in Amsterdam.

Possible locations for the trees include the planned Sept. 11 memorial, the White House and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

The centre plans to issue a request for proposals for other sites.

Frank was among Jewish occupants of an Amsterdam building rounded up by the Gestapo. She died of typhus at age 15 in a concentration camp.

Read more: ‘Anne Frank tree’ saplings may be planted in U.S.

Photo: Flickr user Jon Shoemaker

Narnia comes to life for blind child

Great story from my friend Phillip Murrell.

Today, we got a look at The Lions Narnia Braille Trail.

It’s the second phase of Darrell’s Dream Boundless Playground at Warriors’ Path State Park in Kingsport.

The new addition is a Braille trail that surrounds the existing playground.

It features eight sensory stations telling a story based on “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” fantasy by C.S. Lewis.

The playground, along with today’s new addition, is a place where children of all abilities can enjoy nature.

“We think it’s important to provide….remove barriers for people who are blind and vision impaired and to removed those barriers so they can play right alongside and learn from one another and their friends,” said Lions Club President Doug Haseltine.

The additions at the boundless playground don’t end with the Lions Narnia Braille Trail.

A tree house will open this fall. It will be accessible to children with and without disabilities.

Watch this story: The Lions Narnia Braille Trail Opens In Kingsport