Ten-Year-Old Boy makes compelling environment video

When you were 10-years-old, what were you doing? I know it may be harder for some of us to remember than others, but let me ask you another question. Did you consider yourself an organizer?  For many us, our work as organizers did not begin until much later in life, but for Nikos Spiridakis it is already in full swing.

During a family road trip from Denver to Los Angeles when Nikos was 8 in the summer of 2007, Nikos experienced countless forest fires along the way–helping to open his eyes to the severity of global warming and the need for urgent action to tackle this climate crisis. Like many of us who care about this issue, the nagging question of “what can I do to stop global warming” lingered in his mind throughout the trip.

While sitting in the car at a gas station more recently, watching the digits on the gas pump escalate, Nikos was inspired to make a powerful global warming video. His film is currently one of the sample videos for the 1Sky and Brighter Planet national video contest: Climate Matters–Inspire Your Next President!

The metronomic beeping of the pump reminded him of a heart rate monitor–metaphorically monitoring the health of our planet. With each beep, images of forest fires, crumbling ice caps, crowded freeways, pollution, and unsustainable drilling practices flashed through his mind. With the help of his family, Nikos wrote and directed a chillingly powerful climate PSA–overcoming his extreme dyslexia and turning his idea into a powerful message.

Source: CSR Wire

Young boy plays baseball despite cancer

Inspirational stories and people can be found in towns and cities around the globe.  One particular young man of note is Hudson Davis of Lafayette, CA.

The Contra Costa Times provided an in-depth article chronicling Hudson’s efforts that one would find truly inspirational.

The 12-year-old from Lafayette is nearing the completion of a Little League season in which he helped pitch and hit his team to first place and was named to his league’s all-star squad. That would be a distinguished achievement for any youngster.

What’s especially remarkable about Hudson is that he did all that while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments for a malignant brain tumor discovered long before his season started.

Nothing was going to stop Hudson from playing baseball.  His persistence inspired his parents, coaches, friends, teammates and even Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

For Hudson, the motivation was simple.  He wanted to play baseball.

“The only time you saw a smile on the kid’s face was when he was on the baseball field,” said Greg Davis, Hudson’s father.  “It was the only time he could really escape all the things that were happening to him.  He’s been through hell and back with all the stuff he’s been through.  But playing baseball definitely helped him get through it.”

The best news is that the tumor is gone, and that Hudson had his final radiation treatment on Wednesday. He will continue long-term care for the foreseeable future, but the worst appears to be over and his prognosis for survival is excellent.

Read the entire Contra Costa Times article here.

Near the beginning of his treatment Hudson was befriended by Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies.  Jimmy Rollins was named Major League Baseball’s National League MVP of 2007.  Jimmy dedicated his first homerun of the 2008 season to Hudson.

On May 11, with the Phillies visiting San Francisco to play the Giants, Jimmy invited Hudson down onto the field during batting practice so they could meet and talk face-to-face for the first time.  Jimmy has been a real inspiration for Hudson.

hudson

Sources: contracostatimes.com, abeldogs.com

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