West Midlands Combined Authority’s Post

Facing Death with a Dream: A Legacy That Lives On Professor #RandolphPausch, a brilliant mind tragically struck by pancreatic cancer, faced his mortality with remarkable courage. Instead of succumbing to despair, he delivered a powerful and inspiring lecture titled "#TheLastLecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." This wasn't a morbid farewell, but a vibrant call to action, a message that continues to resonate long after his passing. Pausch's lecture offered a treasure trove of wisdom. He urged us to dream big, to chase those childhood aspirations with unwavering determination. Life, he reminds us, throws up obstacles – brick walls, as he called them. But these challenges shouldn't deter us; they're opportunities to find creative solutions, to go around, over, or even through the wall. Sometimes, the path may seem like a head fake, a detour that takes us on an unexpected journey. But trust the process, for these detours can ultimately lead us closer to our dreams. Pausch's message transcended the physical limitations of life. He spoke of time travel, not through a machine, but by cherishing memories and using the lessons of the past to navigate the future. He encouraged us to reconnect with those childhood dreams and reignite the passion that fueled our younger selves. Death may be inevitable, but Pausch's legacy is a testament to the fact that our impact can endure. His lecture is an embodiment of the #thirddeath concept – the idea that even when our physical presence fades and memories dim, the positive impact we make can live on. Pausch's powerful words continue to inspire countless lives, a testament to the power of communication and the enduring impact of sharing knowledge and experiences. Most of us will fade from memory, a harsh truth, but Pausch's story offers a beacon of hope. It shows us that by leaving a positive mark on the world, by living with purpose, we can achieve a form of immortality. We can become more than just names on a gravestone, but inspirations for generations to come. Let Pausch's story be a reminder to: Embrace challenges – See them as opportunities for growth, not roadblocks. Share your wisdom – Your experiences can benefit others in ways you might not imagine. Live with purpose – Identify what truly matters to you and strive to leave a positive legacy. Professor Pausch may be gone, but his message lives on, a powerful reminder that even in the face of mortality, the human spirit can leave an indelible mark on the world. Let's all strive to follow his example, to chase our dreams, and leave the world a better place than we found it. Iqbal Latif

So much about life to learn from this clip.

Do take 5 minutes from your time if you come across this video and haven’t seen it. A great reminder of how it all boils down to the choices one makes. - Happiness is a choice! - Chasing your dreams is a choice! - Complaining is also a choice! - Whining is also a choice! #morningmotivation #choices #greatspeeches #wisdom

TIME TO MEET OUR NEXT BOARD MEMBER- MEET AYMAN MABROUK! Ayman grew up in Elk Grove, graduated from UC Berkeley and now works in investment banking in New York City. In Ayman’s words: Alex and I have been best friends since we met in middle school. We share similar interests, especially sports. After spending time with the Kropp Family, I realized that Big Mike shared those same interests. We would have lots of long talks about almost anything, from my performance on the football field, the trends in the stock market, and how I was doing in the classroom. I enjoyed learning from Big Mike and quickly learned that Big Mike would always be in my corner - encouraging me along the way, but also letting me know his opinion about some of my decisions. I remember learning about his first diagnosis of colon cancer in 2012. It was definitely a scary time for all of us, but Big Mike always maintained his sense of humor and constantly reminded us that he would be ok. I truly view Michael as not only my friend’s dad, but a personal mentor to me. Big Mike always encouraged me to learn through every experience - and I want to continue to honor that through Big Mike’s Bottom Line. I want to be a voice for people my age since CRC is beginning to impact us more. I have already learned a lot about life with cancer and its devastating effects. At my age, I want to be a part of the solution and to help shift the paradigm about how we talk about poop and bodily functions. I hope through this advocacy work, we can bring greater, more widespread awareness to Colorectal Cancer. I believe that with a little education, we can make a huge difference for so many people. With a bit more, we just might be able to alleviate the stress that comes with a cancer diagnosis by preventing it from the very beginning. . . #CANCERSUCKS #KroppGerloffStrong #colorectalcancer #coloncancer #bowelcancer #rectalcancer #colonoscopy #cancer #bigmikesbottomline #bmbl #peekatyourpoop #getscreenedforcoloncancer

Resilience

On #WorldHumanitarianDay2024, it felt appropriate to talk about one of my favourite #humanitarians and her charity. The world can sometimes feel like a confusing, dark place - but there are some incredible people out there that just make the world a brighter, more positive place to live for everyone in their orbit - like Alison Hitchcock. I met Alison Hitchcock, the co-founder of from From Me to You Letters when I chose to write for them as my #volunteering section of my The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. When I signed up, I knew I'd be writing hundreds of letters, but what I wasn't expecting was for a lifelong friendship with Alison to bloom. She is the warmest, funniest, most brilliant woman and mentor, who spends her life giving to all - she's a rainbow in human form, and the dearest friend. My journey with From Me To You Letters, started with my mum (well, step-mum, technically). She had spent a lot of time in hospital when I was 13, and as I sat on her bed after school each day, all she'd want after a day of doctors and consultants, was to hear about my day: friends, squabbles, funny things - everything, and she'd always tell me how lucky she felt to have me there, even if I was often scoffing a samosa! I walked out each day, past the other rooms without visitors, I realised just how alone many must feel, which led me to write for From Me To You Letters. From Me To You Letters allows you to write to an anonymous friend who is living with cancer. We all know someone who has been affected by #cancer; Cancer Research UK (CRUK) found that one in two of us will develop cancer at some point. Those who are living with it, don't always want to talk about it, and those living with someone with it, don't always know how to approach it - 'do I ask, or not?'. You can write about cake, movies, books, dogs and even your Bridget Jones-eque love life if you really want! If you have a spare hour at the end of the week, please do consider writing for them via this link - https://lnkd.in/eCA3nsWc or, why not open it up to the community and run a From Me to Brew event, https://lnkd.in/e-XHwSWT, which raises much needed funds for the charity to continue, all whilst enjoying tea and cake. #Mentor #WomenSupportingWomen #Charity #Cancer #Community #FromMeToBrew #Tea #Cake #FromMeToYouLetters #WorldHumanitarianDay

🌍 World Cancer Day: Education for Prevention & Support 🎗️ This World Cancer Day, let's unite to spread awareness, inspire hope, and promote education. Cancer affects us all, and knowledge is our strongest tool in the fight against it. 🌟 📘 Education is Key: Empower yourself with knowledge about cancer prevention, early detection, and support systems. Education is a powerful weapon against this formidable foe! 💪 🔗 #EducationAgainstCancer #KnowledgeIsPower #WorldCancerDay #EmpowerWithEducation 🧑🤝🧑 Join Us: At Brilliaant Career Solution, we believe in education that goes beyond textbooks. Let's stand together in the fight against cancer by fostering awareness and supporting those affected. 📚 Our Commitment: Brilliaant Career Solution is committed to empowering individuals through education, ensuring everyone has the tools to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. 🎗️ Support & Share: Share this post to spread the message of hope, knowledge, and unity. Let's make a difference together! Together, we can create a world where knowledge conquers cancer. 🌈💙 #EducationForAll #WorldCancerDay2024

✍🏽 APPLY NOW: Receive up to $360,000 to lead cancer solutions with the First Nations Cancer Scholarship! 🏥 Cancer is the leading cause of death among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but less than 1% of health professionals identify as Indigenous. 🔬 However, you can now get your cancer-related full-time postgraduate study or research fully funded thanks to the Aurora Education Foundation (Aurora) and Cancer Australia. 🧑🏽⚕️ The First Nations Cancer Scholarship supports Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander graduate students, health professionals or early-career researchers to build skills and knowledge that improve cancer outcomes for our communities. It also aims to increase the number of Indigenous leaders in cancer-related fields. 🫶🏽 As well as up to $120,000 a year over three years, the First Nations Cancer Scholarship also provides academic, wellbeing and community support. 🔗 Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gt43iuua. #CancerResearch #IndigenousDoctors #MedicalScholarship #AboriginalandTorresStraitIslander #ResearchScholarship

Psalm 112:5 – Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. Proverbs 11:24-25 – One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 19:17 – Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. Please make a generous contribution to help Sean win this fight against cancer. https://gofund.me/0e0c62dd

In the shadows of life's greatest challenges, we often discover the brightest lights of hope and resilience. "A Journey of Resilience Through Colon Cancer" shares the profound story of Jerry Exner, whose battle with colon cancer is not just a tale of adversity but a beacon of strength for us all. From the shock of diagnosis to the trials of treatment, Jerry's experience is a powerful reminder of the human spirit's capacity to endure and thrive, even in the face of cancer. His involvement with the Calgary chapter of Ostomy Canada Society underscores the incredible value of community support and understanding in navigating the stormiest seas of our lives. Whether you're fighting a similar battle or know someone who is, Jerry’s narrative offers not just solace, but a path forward filled with hope and solidarity. Read Jerry's inspiring story today. Discover the power of resilience, and remember, you're not alone on this journey. Find support, find strength at https://ow.ly/TRPQ50QZgyR.