http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/article_47037ed0-1810-52e2-afc6-fe30569dc093.html For work, we set up a Curt Brinkman scholarship fund. Curt of course, in the wheelchair division, won the St. George Marathon lots of times, won the Boston Marathon and several others across the crountry. He was also Paraolympian gold medalist. Before being in a wheelchair he stood 6'7 and had dreams of becoming a pro basketball player. When he lost his legs at 17 he was tortured by the thought of not being able to walk again. But from that greif he summoned the will to become a true champion and world class athelete. Curt spoke at a couple of our Kidney Camps and never failed to inspire and connect to the struggles of those having to survive on dialysis and wait for a transplant. One of his best friend's brother had been a dialysis patient and later received a transplated kidney donated by the man's wife. Since Curt died last September, we developed a scholarship fund called "Will to Win" that would be made available to any youth transplant recipient (kidney, heart, pancreas, etc). So yesterday we had a luncheon to announce the first scholarship recipient: Ryan Proctor. I know Ryan because she singlehandly raised $600 for a Kidney Walk he had a few years ago. The whole experience of remembering Curt, seeing his massive shoulders push that wheelchair, remembering what an affiable, positive person he was; remembering Ryan and her struggles to overcome both kidney failure (10 hours a night on dialysis) and later thyroid cancer, really gave me pause. We are so lucky who have health, we strive for excellence or to overcome our own challenges. But I was reminded as I am so often through my work what a gift a healthy body is. Curt and Ryan challenge us to look at what they overcome, to give us the strength to overcome whatever it is we think we can not. It was a great day. Curt Brinkmann was a great man. I'm really proud to be part of the scholarship fund and give young people who have struggled to get through school through chronic illness and financial hardship, the opportunity to go to college. | 