Most Inspiring of the Month

Mary Jenkins

Mary Jenkins is the President and CEO of Christians Overcoming Cancer (COC), a nonprofit organization she founded in the fall of 2006 while in treatment herself for Stage III Breast Cancer. COC is passionate about helping cancer patients succeed on their road to recovery through awareness, emotional support and financial relief services. In 2007, Jenkin’s was awarded the Pat Hughes Award of Inspiration by the Susan G. Komen Foundation for her work at Christians Overcoming Cancer, and in 2008, the INCREASE Community Development Corporation chose her as the Nonprofit Micro Entrepreneur of the Year. She also recently received national recognition by FUZW Beverage as a Hero for Hope from the nomination of the Susan G. Komen for a Cure Foundation. Jenkin’s conviction, courage, determination and strength fuel her passion to encourage and inspire everyone she encounters. Click here to learn more about Jenkins and Christians Overcoming Cancer.

Michael J Fox

Though he would not share the news with the public for nearly seven years, actor Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991. Upon disclosing his condition in 1998, he committed himself to the campaign for increased Parkinson’s research. While he remains committed to his acting and writing careers, Fox has now shifted his primary focus and energies toward The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which he launched in 2000, and its efforts to raise much-needed research funding and awareness for the disease. He has received numerous honorary degrees and humanitarian awards over the years. In 2010, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. Fox believes that if there is a concentrated effort from the Parkinson’s community, elected representatives in Washington, DC, and the general public, researchers will be able to pinpoint the cause of Parkinson’s and uncover a cure within our lifetime.

Laura Hillenbrand

Laura Hillenbrand was born in Fairfax, Virginia, and grew up riding bareback on her families Maryland farm. She studied at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, but was forced to leave before graduation when she contracted Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. While her illness has left her homebound and at times bed ridden, this did not stop Hillenbrand from realizing her dream of becoming an author. In 2001, she published her first book, Seabiscuit, a non-fiction account of the career of the great racehorse Seabiscuit. The book led to her winning the William Hill Sports Book of the Year in 2001. Hillenbrand says she was compelled to tell the story because she "found fascinating people living a story that was improbable, breathtaking and ultimately more satisfying than any story she had ever come across." It was made into the Academy Award® nominated film Seabiscuit in 2003.

Jordan Cullbreath

During the 2008 season, Princeton Running Back Jordan Cullbreath, led the Ivy League in rushing with 1,206 yards and was named to the All-Ivy First team. Everything changed in 2009 after a sprained ankle when he was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a rare disease in which the body’s bone marrow fails to make enough new blood cells. After a search for a bone marrow donor and several months of treatment, Cullbreath remarkably returned to the team in 2010 for his senior year and was named co-captain by his coach. He was recognized by the College Football Hall of Fame in May of this year as the 2011 Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion. His inspirational battle with this rare disease and his triumphant return to the football field continues to inspire many in the rare disease community. Through the blog CaringBridge.org, Cullbreath continues to reach out to other players, families and complete strangers inspired by his story.

Kathy Bates

Oscar winning actress Kathy Bates is known for playing fearless, outspoken females. Perhaps best known for her role as a deranged fan in the 1990’s film Misery, Bates faced a terrifying real life ordeal in 2003 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Struggling with her feelings, thoughts and fears she kept the disease to herself for years. After undergoing treatment, she went public with her cancer survival in hopes of helping other women protect themselves from this deadly disease. Attending fundraisers and seeing other women battling the disease motivated Bates to team up with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance to provide both a 30-second PSA and a more in-depth interview to help increase awareness about ovarian cancer. August marked her 8^th year in remission from the disease. She continues to support the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and remains an inspiration to cancer victims across the country.

Adam Tarosky

In 1992, Adam Tarnosky was a high school senior in Pensacola, FL, when he noticed a suspicious lump and went to the doctor. The diagnosis was testicular cancer. With subsequent surgery and chemotherapy treatment, his cancer was cured. Cancer was a life-changing experience for him and lead to his decision to become a doctor. After completing his senior year, the Florida division of the American Cancer Society (ACS) awarded Tarnosky a full scholarship for four years at Florida State University. He was one of the first 18 students to receive this award from Florida’s inaugural ACS College Scholarship program in 1993, the first ACS division to create such a fund. Upon graduation from Florida State University, he went to the University Of Florida College Of Medicine and gained his medical degree. This inspirational physician now supports the ACS Scholarship program in hopes of helping children with cancer achieve their dreams.

Sean Swarner

Sean Swarner was diagnosed with two completely different types of cancer, Hodgkin’s disease and Askin’s sarcoma at the age of 13 and again at the age of 16 where he was given 14 days to live and read his last rights. However, Swarner proved to be a medial marvel and astounded the medical community by surviving both these brutal diseases. After defeating cancer twice, Swarner decided that no challenge would ever be too great or rather any peak too high. He proved his theory when he reached the peak of Mount Everest, the highest point in the world with only partial use of his lungs. He has since climbed to the top of the highest peaks in Africa, Europe, North and South America, Australia and Antarctica. As the founder of CancerClimber, as author the book Keep Climbing and as a motivational speaker he continues to share his message of healing, hope and triumph with cancer patients around the world.

Della Reese

In 2000, 72-year-old actress, Della Reese began having a series of headaches and difficulties walking while working on the CBS television show Touched by An Angel. After nearly collapsing on set, she was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Upset with the diagnosis, she began educating herself on the disease and learned that she had the power to make meaningful changes in her life that would allow her to stay healthy and happy including adding an exercise routine for the first time in her life. Reese was tapped as the national spokesperson for an educational awareness campaign called "Della Reese: Stronger than Diabetes." Sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, the campaign is designed to help people with Type II diabetes learn to manage their disease. She continues to speak often on the topic and inspires others to take charge of their lives, get educated and get healthy.

Lance Armstrong

At age 25, Lance Armstrong was one of the world's best cyclists, winning the World Championships, the Tour Du Pont and multiple Tour de France stages. Armstrong seemed invincible—and then he learned he had testicular cancer. Like most young men, he had ignored the warning signs and left untreated the cancer spread to his abdomen, lungs and brain. Though his prognosis looked dim, Lance declared himself not a cancer victim but a cancer survivor. He took an active role in educating himself about his disease and the treatment. Armed with knowledge and confidence in medicine, he underwent aggressive treatment and beat the disease. Before fully recovering, he created the Lance Armstrong Foundation; marking the beginning of Lance's life as an advocate for people living with cancer and a world representative for the cancer community. Today he is an inspiration for all cancer survivors. This is a life he owes to cancer. This is his choice to LIVESTRONG.

John Nash

76-year-old, John Nash is one of the most famous mathematicians on the planet. His work in game theory, differential geometry and partial differential equations has provided insight into the forces that govern both chance and events inside complex systems in daily life. Nash’s life was anything but ordinary. In 1959, he started displaying severe signs of paranoia and was involuntarily committed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, given shock therapy and released. He was hospitalized again for a period of 9 years and was released in 1970. It was at that time his work was becoming more successful and resulted in his receipt of various awards and recognition. Later, in 1994, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for a mathematical theory that has become a cornerstone in modern economics. The Academy Award® winning film, A Beautiful Mind brought the details of his life and his remarkable triumph over the disease to the forefront.