92-year-old Grandma & Grandson on Mission to Visit every US National Park Together

Brad Ryan, 41, and his 92-year-old grandmother, Joy Ryan, are nearing the finish line on a goal they once thought was impossible: visiting all 63 U.S. national parks together.

The duo from Duncan Falls, Ohio, kicked off their adventure in October 2015, when Brad was looking for a way to spend a three-day weekend during veterinary school. He said the idea was sparked by a conversation he had with “Grandma Joy” about his past adventures on the Appalachian Trail.

“I felt bad that she was always living vicariously through my stories,” Brad told “GMA.” “And so just knowing that she had never seen deserts and mountains and the ocean and these incredible wild places on Earth, it just felt like a responsibility that I had to her to make sure that she had some memories to take away in her life story as well.”

Brad invited his grandma on a weekend trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, anticipating it would be their only excursion together.

“You don’t assume going into that that your 85-year-old grandmother going with you on a camping trip is going to be anything less than challenging,” Brad said. “That was my fault. That was my misperception of what age means and more importantly, what her spirit would allow her to do.”

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99-year-old Peggy Koeller Meets Her 100th Grandchild

A Montgomery County, Pennsylvania woman is celebrating the birth of her 100th great-grandchild! Peggy Koller, 99, got to meet and hold her newest great-grandchild. Peggy’s place was their first stop after being cleared to leave the hospital.  Koller William Balster was named after his great-grandfather, William Koller. This big family actually started off quite small. Peggy was an only child growing up and always dreamed of having a big family.

“I wanted to have a big family. I think it’s difficult being an only child – it’s lonely” -Peggy said according to 6abc.

Their big family has included lawyers, real estate developers, educators and continuing the family business at the Koller Funeral Home in Roxborough, PA. “I always hoped for a doctor but never got one,” Peggy said with a laugh. The race for great-grandchild number 100 actually came down to the wire. Chrissy Balster and her cousin Colleen were due just one day apart.

Anthony Ray Hinton Spent 30 Years on Death Row for a Crime He Didn’t Commit

Anthony H

Anthony Ray Hinton spent nearly 30 years on Alabama’s death row for a crime he did not commit. When acclaimed civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson was assigned his case, they spent 16 years fighting before winning a unanimous reversal of his case in the United States Supreme Court. Anthony shares the important lessons of compassion and friendship he learned in the midst of great injustice in this riveting interview with PBS.

Watch his interview below to hear his story and journey to justice.

 

NEVER GIVE UP! This Young Hurdler Didn’t Let a Fall Determine Her Race!

Abigail Dennis of Old Tappan High School showed the ultimate determination this past weekend. During her preliminary heat of the 100m Hurdles at the Bergen County Championships in New Jersey she took a hard fall on the second hurdle. Instead of throwing in the towel, she hopped right up and kept racing. She was able to work her way back into the race and finish first overall in her heat and second overall in the preliminary rounds. Her grit and determination earned her a spot in the final where she took FIRST overall in a new Personal Best time of 14.28!

“I had a bit of a choppy start in the prelims so I kind’ve expected not to do as well as I would’ve liked, but I didn’t expect that superman fall, but when I knew I didn’t hurt anything, I knew that I had to redeem myself because no one wants to go out like that in counties,” said Dennis. Dennis’s also won the 100 on Friday and the 200 today to help lead Old Tappan to the Group B team title.

 

The video of Aigail’s race has gone viral on social media, and for good reason! Her persistence and determination prove that the race is never over until the end so keep pushing!

Everyone Needs a Teammate Like This Young Boy

the ultimate teammate

A great team starts with a great leader. The video below is a prime example of what it means to be a great teammate. When your teammates are down you pick them back up! Bob was clearly upset and frustrated with his performance on the Rugby pitch. “Everyone is older than me, everyone is bigger than me” he cried.

His shorter teammate was right there to pick him up and let him know how good he actually was. “Look at me. I’m the shortest kid here, it doesn’t matter who you are, it doesn’t matter your size” he exclaimed. Reassuring his teammate that he was not as bad as he thought he was. We could all use a teammate like this young boy here!

 

 


 

Sorrow to Success: NCAA Champion Aliyah Boston

The ultimate champion is someone who NEVER gives up. Aliyah Boston turned her sorrow into success and never gave up on her dream. Last year during the Women’s March Madness Final Four, she missed the game winning layup to send South Carolina to the Championship game. She worked all offseason long to ensure she wouldn’t suffer the same fate as 2021. Aliyah and the Gamecocks dominated the 2022 Championship game and were named the Division 1 Women’s Basketball National Champions!

 

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After the game Aliyah even got to meet her idol, WNBA legend Candace Parker! Aliyah’s story is a great example of determination and hard work. Just because you fail once, doesn’t mean you throw in the towel. KEEP WORKING HARD!

Girl Born Without Arms Now Able to Eat With Friends

Tenley Stoker has lived her whole life without arms. She has missed out on some of the simple joys of life, like eating food with a spoon or fork. The 10-year-old from Stevensville, Montana was used to eating lunch on her own with an assistant who fed her bite by bite. This all changed when her parents learned of a high-tech feeding device known as Obi that scoops and serves food on a spoon for those who need assistance.

“It has really empowered her and changed her as a person,” Stoker’s father, Mathieu Stoker, told PEOPLE Magazine. “With this [device] she’s in the normal lunch room visiting with her peers, eating all the same foods they’re eating at her own pace.”

Jon Dekar, a 34 year old Engineer and inventor, created this product to help transform the lives of users. Dekar was first inspired to create Obi during his freshman year in high school after watching his grandfather slowly lose his independence. He developed the first prototype in 2006 as an engineering student at the University of Dayton. “It’s about giving back a sense of independence,” says Dekar, who explains that many users often cry when they first use the machine. “Being able to truly eat independently just means the world to them.” via PEOPLE Magazine.