Attacking Attaxia

I once heard someone ask the question – “How do you respond to your reality?”
It’s a question the young man you’re about to meet is answering in a most beautiful and inspiring way.

Kyle Bryant has Friedreich’s Ataxia, a fatal disease that breaks down the nervous system, heart and brain. I was blown away when I met Kyle. His energy is infectious and his attitude is all about gratitude. In the midst of a fatal illness, Kyle has found a reason for living big.

Kyle’s body is deteriorating every day, but his spirit it getting stronger and stronger. How? It’s because of his response to his own reality. Instead of letting this disease attack his life’s purpose … Kyle has made his purpose in life attacking this disease.

This is where the Ride Ataxia event rolls in. On March 16, 2009, Kyle and hundreds of his cycling teammates will take a four day adventure from Portland to Seattle to raise money to help search for a cure. This is the third year Kyle has embarked on such a remarkable journey, and to date, Kyle has raised more than $350,000. Raising funds to fight this disease has become Kyle’s purpose in life. It’s what drives him to live in the solution, not the problem. With a devastating diagnosis like Ataxia, it would be easy to live in “dis-ease.” Not Kyle, he’s rolling on! Mile by mile, Kyle is living to put the breaks on a deadly disease.

So in the spirit of Kyle – how do you respond to your reality? There are a zillion circumstances for our own realities. Yours may be the result of disease or life choices. But your response is more important than your reality. It’s your response that can change how you see your reality – and set you free.

For more on Kyle’s amazing story and the Ride Ataxia III, log on to rideataxia.org.

Mayor On The Move

There is no other man more on the move in Sacramento than Mayor Kevin Johnson. No matter your political preference, you can’t deny the fact that the Sacramento Mayor does not idle for long. When we met up with the mayor at his loft at 6:30am he had already been up for more than two hours. Oh, and did I mention that he had already jogged 4 miles? I thought it was a big deal to get up at 7am and let my dog out the door and crawl back in bed.

We spent the next 6 hours with the mayor and flat out wore me out. It was a morning of non stop action. He doesn’t walk, he sprints. Every where we went people stopped Mayor Johnson wanting to talk, share ideas, shake hands or get an autograph. What impressed me so much was the fact that the mayor never got off topic of pushing his purpose for Sacramento.

Mayor Johnson says he can make Sacramento a world class city – but he can’t do it alone. Johnson says this is where all Sacramentans come in. Each will play just as big a role as he will in making Sacramento a destination city. It appears Johnson is bringing his team mentality from the basketball court to City Hall!

So get involved. Volunteer somewhere. Break your routine by putting some time into your community. Help a senior who needs a little break. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to make an impact. They are everywhere you look. Everyone is filled with great talent and ideas. So share them! It is by your actions that you will make a difference in your city and in yourself. And hey – the worst case scenario is – it’ll keep you on the move!

Welcome to Rob on the Road!

KVIE goes more local than ever before! Our new series, Rob on the Road, brings a fresh new experience on the places and people that make the Central Valley your home. KVIE’s Rob Stewart brings you the stories that capture the spirit of what makes California great! These are the stories that matter and move you. You won’t just learn about what surrounds you, you’ll experience it a brand new way!

Experience Rob on the Road. A new experience for KVIE – a new experience for you!