Well on his way to the big leagues, Kervin was drafted by the Jays in 2008 and by 2009 was on his way up to Double A, where he spent a year as a utility player in New Hampshire. Heading into the 2009 off-season, Kervin was focused and determined to work himself into the best physical shape of his life hoping to enter the 2010 season as a serious player option. His plan however took a sudden unexpected turn for the worse.

“During November of 2009 I started having sharp stomach pains and bloody diarrhea, but I didn’t know what the symptoms were or what Crohn’s or colitis was,” explained the Grapevine, Texas native. “Being my competitive self I just kept working out through the pains and fatigue because I didn’t want a stomach flu or bug to keep me from my next spring training and getting myself prepared,” says Kervin.  “Finally it came down to me showing up to the gym in November of 2009 and I just about passed out. I went home that Friday and set up a doctors appointment for Monday and that week I got diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.”

After taking three weeks off and feeling reasonably better, Kervin continued his workouts while taking small steps to fully eliminate the various medications from his life, which in January of 2010 seemed very possible, until the ulcerative colitis returned with a vengeance.

“January 25 I remember being in Target with my sisters getting my nephew a ‘welcome to the world’ gift and I was just curled over, I was in so much pain my mouth would get watery. I have a high tolerance for pain and it was so painful that I couldn’t move,” described Bryan. “It felt like a knife stabbing right into my stomach so I called my doctor that night. The same day my nephew was born I went into the hospital thinking I’d only be there for a few days and get it knocked out of the way and get back to my workout. Well I was wrong and a lot of what they were trying wasn’t working,” he recalled.

What Bryan initially thought was a minor setback would have him sidelined from the life he led for a year. It had him in and out of the hospital and on and off various medications and hormone enhancements. As this painful cycle continued, Bryan’s doctor felt that only one option was left, surgery.

“I had a surgeon talk to me. I had just figured out what this disease was, let alone what it could do to the body and how bad it can affect you. He talked about the possible removal of my large intestine and how I wouldn’t be able to play baseball again and there was a chance my fertility could be cut down because they were working on that area,” elucidated Kervin.

In what was to date the toughest time in his life, Bryan is quick to point out that his faith had a large part in his road to recovery.

“Here I am one minute in Double A, my first pro season of baseball and before I know it I’m in the hospital having the doctor tell me I wont be able to play baseball again. It was really hard to deal with but I really relied on my faith and knew God would help me through it and obviously through my experiences I’ve grown stronger and closer to my faith,” he says.

During his grueling year and battle with ulcerative colitis, Kervin dropped from 190 lbs to 120 lbs, and at a time looked like the doctor would be correct about him never again playing the game he loved. Within 10 months of his battle, Kervin was back in action despite the enormous hill he was forced to climb. During his return, in the best shape of his life, Bryan fractured his hand which he insisted on hiding due to the fear of missing more baseball, facing yet another obstacle on his journey.

At this point of his life and career it seems like there’s nothing Bryan Kervin hasn’t faced that could make it any more difficult for him to achieve his dream. Alongside his continuing conquest to achieve what he believes he is meant to do, he has also put his efforts forth in hopes of helping others faced with similar situations. His passion for assisting others has led him to establish the Rise and Conquer Foundation; a Foundation dedicated to raising awareness about Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis while providing support for those affected through mentoring programs and fundraisers.

“Do everything with passion, whatever you do in life if you do it with passion it means your heart’s in it and you’re doing it with energy and that energy creates an atmosphere that everyone wants to be around and makes everyone around you better,” says Bryan. “I was passionate about the cause and that’s why I started the Foundation, because my hearts in it to help out kids and others that are going through what I went through.”

The Rise and Conquer Foundation also donates various items to hospitals gastrointestinal wards designed to make more palatable experiences for patients and their families. For Bryan, the top priority remains mentoring and support for the patients.

Although Bryan still faces many difficult days, he finds strength deep within to make each day just a bit better.

“You can only control certain things in life. I couldn’t control that I got sick or the news with the disease or that I’m not where I want to be as far as career wise, but I cant control those things but I can control my attitude and how I approach each day. You have to dig deep within to help out others and to be there for others, as a teammate and family member, even if you’re having a rough day,“ he stated.

Bryan hopes to eventually open Rise and Conquer to other avenues of support for addiction, cancer patients and those with learning disabilities.

In times of struggle and need we look to heroes for support and motivation. Bryan Kervin may not be a household name at the moment, but his story and strength are most definitely inspirational in their own right. His courage and unwillingness to give up is refreshing and powerful and leaves you speechless when you hear about everything he has overcome. We are not measured in life by what we can achieve, but by what we can take and how we continue to move on and continue our road to success, whatever that may be.

“I look at struggles, trials and setbacks as something that makes us better and builds our character and perseverance, I wouldn’t trade what I went through to be in the big leagues right now because I’ve become that much better of a person through the toughest times of my life.”

To learn more about the Rise and Conquer Foundation, visit http://www.riseandconquer.org/

In 1996, Nick ‘The Kick’ retired from professional football but continued into a retirement that many would consider a full-time job. The Nick Lowery Youth Foundation was established in 1996, providing assistance and guidance to many disadvantaged youth including many Native American teens that are in need of a guiding hand. Stemming from a childhood of sophisticated guidance and inspiration from family friends, neighbours and his aunt, Nick Lowery began his journey of giving back long before his Foundation was considered official.

“It really goes back to how I left college. I was a legislative aide in the United States Senate while I was trying to make it in the NFL. I grew up next door to Supreme Court Justice Byron White, whose name is on the Humanitarian Award that NFL players receive,” Nick explained.

“I just feel like I was surrounded by people who believed in service and contribution to their country. My aunt had Cerebral Palsy and yet she became Utah Citizen of the Year, she taught herself to type, she got her college degree and became a professional librarian at the University of Utah,” said Lowery.

The effects of growing up next to a humanitarian icon that happens to have the NFL’s Humanitarian Award named after him made an early impact on Nick Lowery. Byron White, a man who led the NFL in rushing twice, served as an intelligence officer for the United States military during the Second World War and was the fourth United States Deputy Attorney General. He gave Nick the inspiration to share such knowledge and restore faith in our elders wisdom.

“We believe that the American and Western culture has forgotten or ignored to a large degree, the traditional, historical and culturally relevant role of the elder initiating the young person into adulthood,” stated the three-time Pro Bowler.  “If you think about the seminal movies of the last 30 years, a lot of them, whether it’s Star Wars with Yoda or the Karate Kid, they always have mentoring figures,” added Lowery.

“What we do is this leadership training which gives young people a taste of power. It gives them an awareness of a crucial link between their own identity and purpose and their cultural roots.”

Nick Lowery and his Youth Foundation work towards providing unguided youth with a sense of self-determination, while enhancing compassion for making a real difference in making the world a better place. Through his lessons, which have been carefully crafted and developed from his time at Harvard, Lowery is able to create a mentor-rich environment in many children’s lives that are making the transition into adulthood, while enabling their understanding of their role in society.

“People have to understand how they connect culturally to transcend the national boundaries to achieve real power, real democracy, real freedom and that’s what the adapted leadership model is about,” said Nick. “Seeing that the world is melting away its normal boundaries and social network is replacing dictatorships and military hardware as the way that we can work together,” he added.

Not only does Nick ‘The Kick’ focus on encouraging today’s youth to become their own leaders, but he also supports various charitable causes and has helped raise awareness and money. His successful Kick with Nick for Cerebral Palsy raised $1 million for a cause that at the time had almost no name recognition, while educating the importance of the rights of those who are disabled.

In 1993, as a testament to Nick’s community work and care for others, he was awarded with the NFL’s most prestigious humanitarian award, the Byron Whizzer White Award, which to no coincidence is named after his life mentor, Byron White.

The Nick Lowery Youth Foundation works hard to provide countless children the chance to learn from proper positive mentors during what is a confusing time for much of society’s youth. A hero to the city of Kansas City for his excellence both on and off the field, Nick Lowery is more than just a former NFL place kicker, he is a mentor and an influence for generations young and old.

For more information on the Nick Lowery Youth Foundation, visit www.nicklowery.com

Aside from the four Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees who took part in the game, as well as the respected captains of each team, many great names from different generations were out on the ice helping out a good cause. Team Salming consisted of Borje Salming, Ed Belfour, Doug Gilmour, Angela James, Lanny McDonald, Dave Ellett, Mike Keane, Gary Leeman, Daniel Marois, Jeff O’Neill, Darcy Tucker and Sami Jo Small, who played between the pipes instead of Belfour. Team Bourque was just as recognizable as they were represented by Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Mark Howe, Joe Nieuwendyk, Steve Shutt, Bryan Trottier, Guy Carbonneau, Ron Duguay, Lori Dupuis, Theoren Fleury, Craig Muni, Gary Roberts and Billy Smith who got the call in net.

“We’re pretty fortunate guys to be able to do what we do and you know the only reason we have jobs is because people show up and pay the ticket prices and ultimately pay our salaries,” said Theoren Fleury. “I think its absolutely important and imperative that not only when you leave the game, but when you’re playing the game too, that you let the fans know a bit more about you and give yourself a little bit more because there are lots of people out there that need help,” added the seven-time All-Star.

Although it wasn’t your ordinary every day hockey game, the fans were energetic throughout the course of the game, even when the youngsters from Port Credit got their shot to come out and represent Team Salming. All of the players out on the ice catered to the kids and the fans and made this their own little way of saying ‘thanks for the support’ throughout the years.

“I think those guys realize how much of an impact they have out there and it’s terrific,” commented Joe Nieuwendyk. “You see guys like [Bryan] Trottier who does a great job with the kids and it’s special. Those guys have given a lot to the game and now they’re able to give back and help charities,” added the newest member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and three-time Stanley Cup champion.

Throughout the game, fans were shown appreciation as pairs of Haggar khaki pants were tossed into the crowd by players, as well as the referees; Ray Scapinello, Ron Hoggarth and Kerry Fraser, and were given out in different sections during the course of the game.

“I think when you’re able to come out and raise money for a charity, whether it be in the sports world or life in general, it changes you,” said Gary Roberts.

“I really do believe Shoot For A Cure has done a wonderful job in the community and it’s nice to see that the players support it,” added the one-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time All-Star.

Other proceeds from the game went towards stopconcussions.com, an online concussion/neurotrauma educational and awareness hub for all sports used to address the growing trend of concussions in sports.

“We do a lot of things like this all the time. We always do things for charity because it’s always good for you,” explained the ageless Borje Salming. “You have to give back what you got and this is a really good way to do that,” concluded the 1996 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee.

To learn more about Shoot For A Cure, visit http://www.shootforacure.org/

To learn more about stopconcussions.com, visit http://www.stopconcussions.com/about-us/

*Quotes from Theoren Fleury and Gary Roberts were contributed by Michael Cecchin

“This is a voluntary charity so we pay the students and they support us with their work. They go to school for a certain part of their education, whether it be advertising or sports administration, but what’s nice is that they have accommodated it all together with this Foundation and today the opening of the new wing is part of what they have contributed,” said Jenkins.

“They haven’t had an easy task over the last few months to try and put it together, but it’s here for your entertainment and it will be bigger and better than what people are expecting it to be,” added the three-time All-Star.

The Foundation was given a grant of $10,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation; an organization that enables Ontarians to work together to enhance the quality of life in their communities and believe that their grants stimulate communities to build on their assets such as creativity and drive.

“I guess you could say, and pardon the pun, but we liked your pitch,” said Ellis Katsof of the Ontario Trillium Foundation during his speech as the room erupted in laughter.

“We are proud to be a part of this team effort to make these renovations happen because we see this as an investment for the long run. Their plans are a really good fit to help Ontarians become more engaged in their community through volunteerism and learning about other opportunities,” Katsof added about the Fergie Jenkins Foundation.

During the reception, the Fergie Jenkins Foundation gave back to the community some more, this time by presenting cheques to both the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and the Special Olympics. Aside from the donations that the Foundation made, Jenkins and former major league outfielder Scott Bullett discussed the new Fergie Jenkins Showcase League; a baseball league that will  to help expose Canada’s baseball talent to the rest of the world and Major League Baseball in particular starting next May. The Burlington Double Blues, Ontario Outlaws, Ontario Athletics, OIBA Prospects, Ontario Cardinals, the Ontario Prospects and the Bullett Proof Prospects, run by Scott Bullett, will each have 16 and 18-year old teams in the league.

“So many kids in Canada get overlooked,” stated Jenkins.

“They are finally starting to realize that we have talented athletes in baseball but there just aren’t as many resources here in Canada and they haven’t done as much research on us,” added Cooperstown’s only Canadian inductee.

“Scotty and I both got our opportunity so we want to help kids out with that and give back to them the opportunity to play sports in the summer and see where it can take them in life.”

Established in 1999, the Jason Kidd Foundation was created to help kids at any age through all aspects of life. Through mentoring, tutoring and technology programs the JKF is dedicated to improving education among youth to give kids the platform and opportunity to fulfill their dreams. The Jason Kidd Foundation works in partnership with Vogel Alcove, KIPP DFW and Northern Lights School, all in efforts to assist kids in any way possible with the goal of receiving the best education possible.

Jason Kidd has been called one of the most community oriented players in the NBA and his infectious desire to better the people around him to do their best doesn’t end at the sidelines. Jason Kidd’s ability to give off the basketball court is endless as he has participated in a variety of many things. He has participated in Read to Achieve; Mavs Reading and learning centers; has raised money for childhood cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and also shows his support for the American Soldiers. He received the 2009-10 NBA Cares Community Assist Award and has been outstanding in his efforts to improve people’s lives not only in Dallas, but also around the world.

Jason Kidd has had a very successful 17-year career; co-winning Rookie of the Year; a 10-time All-Star; 3^rd all time with 107 triple-doubles and 2 Olympic gold medals. After making two straight appearances in the NBA Finals with the New Jersey Nets and losing both times, many speculated that Kidd would never be crowned an NBA champion. However, like the endless children given a chance to dream big, Jason never stopped believing and finally after 17 seasons in the NBA he captured his first Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy with his Dallas Mavericks.

His ability to stay calm in tough times is what helped lead the Mavericks past the all-powerful Miami Heat and solidify his position as a Hall of Famer. It is that same sense of confidence and ability to keep his composure that has allowed him to help so many people and give kids with little hope the chance to dream big and the ability to chase those dreams with success.

To learn more about the Jason Kidd Foundation, visit http://www.jasonkiddfoundation.org/home.html

The It Gets Better Project was created in 2010 in order to show young LGBT people the different levels of happiness, potential, and positivity their lives can and will reach as long as they can get through their teen years. The main purpose of the It Gets Better Project is to show young teenagers in the LGBT community that they are not alone and that things WILL get better from here on in.

With many celebrities, major corporations, and regular everyday people stepping in and making webcasts to show their support for the It Gets Better Project; they have now reached nearly 175,000 followers on their Facebook and almost 20,000 followers on their Twitter account. With Sean Avery being one of the first athletes in today’s world of sports to stand up for same-sex marriage, organizations are slowly starting to follow in his footsteps. The San Francisco Giants released their own It Gets Better video to help kick off Pride Month; making them the first sports organization to stand up for the cause and stand behind the LGBT community. The video features Giants players Matt Cain, Barry Zito, Andres Torres and Sergio Romo, as well as Giants hitting coach Hensley “Bam Bam” Muelens as they all got together to spread the It Gets Better message in English, Spanish and Japanese.

Although Sean Avery didn’t show his support through an It Gets Better video, the support is still much appreciated by the LGBT community. The one player that everyone made out to be such a bad person because of his on-ice antics is showing everyone a different side to him. Due to the way Sean Avery acts on the ice people have stereotyped him and have assumed nothing but the worst about the guy; kind of like the LGBT community and how they receive many stereotypes because of their sexual orientation. With more and more celebrities standing up for the LGBT community every day, they should have a majority of the sports world standing behind them in no time. Through the It Gets Better Project, they have managed to help out other organizations and causes that are similar to theirs. They are benefactors of The Trevor Project and GLSEN and support the ACLU LGBT Project.

The Trevor Project focuses on ending suicide among LGBT youth by providing them with life-saving and life-affirming resources which includes a nationwide, 24/7 crisis intervention lifeline, digital community, and advocacy/educational programs that create a safe and positive environment for all.

GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) focuses on ensuring safe schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. They work to convince education leaders and policymakers that they need to address anti-LGBT behaviour throughout the schools so it becomes a safer environment for kids to learn and interact with others.

The ACLU LGBT Project is an organization that works to create an America free from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender expression, or HIV status through impact litigation, public education, and advocacy. They help students stand up against discrimination, harassment, and censorship.

With the It Gets Better Project getting bigger and bigger every single day with more and more supporters coming on board each day, the LGBT community should have the support of most athletes and organizations by summer’s end. Sometimes all it takes is one person to start a movement and that’s exactly what happened with the It Gets Better Project.

To learn more about the It Gets Better Project or to make your own It Gets Better video, visit http://www.itgetsbetter.org/pages/about-it-gets-better-project/

To learn more about The Trevor Project, visit http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

To learn more about GLSEN, visit http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/home/index.html

To learn more about the ACLU LGBT Project, visit http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/youth-schools