Live On, Give On with a $100 VISA Giveaway

This post is all about “Making a Difference”……

    ………and encouraging you to do the same!

Have you ever had moments in your life; questioning the injustice of what is happening to you OR a family member?

I know that I have questioned the hand that K has been dealt on many occasions.

More so with him than what I faced with the Big C a few years back!

If you are like my family, then you have also been up against the wall with health and medical challenges.

How did you handle it?

After having your personal pity party, did you……

….. see the bright side, carry on and start making a difference in the lives around you?

Or did you let it eat you up inside…..allowing the issue to darken your doorstep and well being?

Please know that there is no right or wrong answer to that question!

We all react, feel and cope to stimuli in different ways!

Why am I asking all these questions?

For starters, I am curious about people and what makes them tick!

Why do some people allow themselves to be pulled ‘under’, and others decided to make a difference in the lives of others even though their own life is an everyday challenge?

As I am NOT a scientist, I cannot give these answers…….but I can certainly find out by asking questions. 😉

I was truly inspired to read the personal stories of these 12 people who decided to push through their health boundaries to make a difference in not only their own lives…..but ours as well!

#LiveOnGiveOn

They are the honorees of the 2015 Bakken Invitation Award, who are all using their life to serve others in their communities, and truly embody the tagline “LIVE ON, GIVE ON”!

This award was created a few years ago by Medtronic Philanthropy, and named for its co-founder Earl Bakken. The program was designed to connect and celebrate people who, with the help of medical technology, have overcome health challenges and now selflessly give back to their communities.

Even though I connected more with Thomas and David’s stories, it was Tanya’s words that blew me away:

Live On Give On
She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails! 

WOW!

We ALL have something going on in our lives, but we cannot let it overcome us!

I love reading positive stories…..it totally inspires me to shake off the pity party (we all have bad days where it creeps into our minds) and do more for the people around me. 

It can be as simple as donating food to the local food pantry, volunteering at your kids school or senior center, or in our house it was helping K organize a student team for the local Relay for Life.

#LiveOnGiveOne

Oxford Relay for Life Team

The 2015 Brakken Honorees know that everyone has something they can contribute to their community, and there is no better time than NOW to make it happen.

While each of these Honorees received $20,000 to further their volunteering services, Medtronic is giving one of YOU a $100 “mini grant” to get you started in giving back to your own community!  😉

***Update……Congratulations Laura J. for winning the Visa card.   Thank you for participating! 😉  ***

Leave a Comment & Enter to win a $100 Visa card:

 Head on over to the Live On Give On website, and read the short stories of the 12 Brakken Honorees.

1.  Leave a comment below and tell me which Honoree inspires YOU…….and why?

2. Winner will be selected on March 18!

3. You must be 18 years, or older to win!

4. Linqia will mail the winner the VISA gift card within 10 days of the contest ending!

The audience member who receives the gift card will use the money to do something good in his or her own community!

Remember……all good deeds, big or small, can help educate and inspire others!!

                                                Shaunna

 

37 thoughts on “Live On, Give On with a $100 VISA Giveaway

  1. Sheila Vasconcellos inspires me! She has Type 1 Diabetes like my brother does. He was diagnosed very young, and with todays technology…has the insulin pump like she does! She has done so much and gives back to families with cancer. An amazing woman! I would love to help with the next Diabetes fundraiser in my community if I won.

  2. Lisa Visser’s story is really inspiring to me and I love that you looks to the Lord. I give to local charities and also to animal shelters in my home town.

  3. I am inspired by David Simmons story. He got Parkinsons quite young, and it is not an easy disease to live with. It has affected people in my life so I have seen it first hand.
    We give back to our community in several different ways.. we volunteer at a food giveaway site and help serve meals. I am an avid gardener and give some of what was blessed to me back to the food bank. We also love giving to Toys for Tots . Theres a long story involved there but years ago when I was a child our family got toys and I will never forget them.
    I also do TNR and socialize kittens out of pocket and maintain a feral cat colony (TNR is trap nueter release) I have done that well over 20 years .
    We do quite a but, and try to do more. So many people are hurting, and although we have little it is a pleasure to do what we can. I would use the extra money to buy more seeds for the garden so we can give more of the bounty of the earth.
    My husband had major heart attack and then months later cancer was discovered. He is living with stents now and has the after effects of radiation. It isnt easy and each day I pray he stays healthy

  4. Tanya Hall. She created something beautiful out of a not so beautiful situation.

    I’ve been so blessed in my life and try to give back as much as I can through the donation of physical items or my time.

  5. Sheila Vasconcellos inspires me because she helps children diagnosed with cancer and serious blood condition by being a volunteer.

  6. I would use the $100 to buy diapers to donate to a woman’s shelter. I am inspired by Sheila Vasconcellos’s story. Type 1 Diabetes is something that our family deals with and I like how she dedicates herself to helping children with cancer and blood conditions.

  7. I found Twinkle’s story inspiring. I have a friend who lives with chronic pain and it can be difficult for those who do not to understand.

  8. I’m inspired by Andrea Volfova’s story! She has been able to accomplish so much despite having a difficult start as child. I like her quote of “CHOOSE LOVE AND COMPASSION, EVERY SINGLE TIME.” You really can’t go wrong with being a kind and compassionate person!

  9. I’m inspired by David Simmons. Parkinson Disease affects every aspect of your life but he says humor helps him deal with it. Its very admirable.

  10. Dr. Thomas Okello’s story inspires me the most.. I like that he became a doctor himself to help others and fight against the disease that so greatly affected him.

  11. the story that most inspired me was Andrea’s.
    the reason is b/c 1 year ago this month my bf had a heart attacks and was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.

    • I am so sorry to hear about your friend Tabitha. I hope they are managing this disease, and leading a wonderful/full life!

  12. I am very inspired by Twinkle’s story because I cannot imagine having to live with chronic pain. She not only has had to deal with this symptom of her medical condition, but she has used her life to raise awareness for CRPS/RSD and neuropathic pain diseases and disorders. Wow!

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

  13. I l am inspired by Andrea Volfova who is from the Prague, Czech Republic and has had cardiovascular disease and she says: CHOOSE LOVE AND COMPASSION, EVERY SINGLE TIME. How awesome! My brother also has a congenital heart defect and if it was not for modern medical technology he would not be here today!

  14. Sheila Vasconcellos inspired me because my sister became diabetic when she was 5. I donated a kidney to her 3 years ago and last year she had a pancreas transplant. She is doing fantastic and helping out the older population. My grandkids and I collect new toys throughout the year and donate them to toy drives at Christmas. This GC would go towards that effort.

  15. Dr. Thomas Okello is an inspiration. The fact that he became a doctor to help others that suffered the same heart problem he did is amazing

  16. David Simmonds inspires me the most. I cannot imagine how difficult living with Parkinson’s disease would be. Instead of letting it get to him, he is helping others that are also living with it.

  17. I like how the LORD is using Lisa Visser to help the homeless. Her story is inspiring.
    Thank you for the chance to win
    GOD bless

  18. I am inspired by all the honorees but I love this message. Sheila Vasconcellos
    “LOVE IS A POWERFUL REMEDY THAT EVERYONE CAN SHARE.”
    I give back to my community by being very active in our local council against abuse and neglect of children. I’m very proud of the work that we do.

  19. Sheila Vasconcellos’s story inspires me because I have a few family members with diabetes. I know that it’s a tough illness, but she keeps fighting and giving back! That is truly awesome to me!

  20. Twinkle VanFleet is an inspiration to me. She turns her experiences of fighting disease into opportunities of helping and supporting needed people.

  21. Lisa Visser inspires me because she suffered cardiac arrest at a young age, and she goes out of her way to help others.

  22. Qi Zhang inspires me. I feel that her dream to help people stemmed from childhood and she stuck with it.

  23. I am touched and inspired by David Simmonds story about living with Parkinson’s Disease. I like that he works to help others with the disease.

  24. As an individual who has had a debilitating disease for over 20 years, I am so inspired by Twinkle VanFleet how she advocates for policy changes as well as patient support in the fight against a chronic illness.

  25. I relate more to Thomas, as my brother has Rhuematic Fever and will be living with it, and the threat to his heart, for the rest of his life!

  26. Tanya Hall is inspirational. It is scary to be born and deal with
    having a hole in your heart, and all the side effects and health issues
    that arise from it. She stayed positive; she started a site to help others like her to get answers, and lives a happy life. jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

  27. David Simmonds’ story inspires me because I have known more than one family with a member living with Parkinson’s, so I know how difficult it is, and it is so great that he is making the best of it with humor and music and giving back to others.

  28. ANDREA VOLFOVA’s story was very touching to read. I teach children and it was upsetting to see that she had a tough childhood but I’m so glad that she was able to turn everything around 🙂 One of my close friends was competing in a softball match and collapsed on the field. She completely stopped breathing and after our coach performed CPR on her, they brought her back. They don’t know why it happened but her heart just stopped and they ended up putting a pacemaker in her.

Leave a Reply to Jason Cruickshank Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge