A Better Life

Here are a couple stories of people who used athletics to help turn their lives around. Both men below hit hard times at one point or another, and made the decision to work hard toward a more fulfilling lifestyle. Take a look at their stories:


Chicago Tribune: Boxing, discipline the combination for a better life

"People care for him. He has grown up to be a leader with incredible focus and dedication. He's more dependable than the sun."

At 12-years-old, Alex Martin Jr. was already getting bad grades and fighting at school in Harvey. His Father decided to start training him to box to give him some discipline and a way to channel his aggression. It worked. In high school, he was a focused athlete who earned a spot on the honor roll. Now, the 20-year-old is a nationally ranked amateur boxer who is scheduled to compete this week in the 2010 USA Boxing National Championships in Colorado. He's hoping to rank high enough for a free ride to college.



Chicago Sun-Times: Marathon man takes small steps and larger strides

"From where I was to where I am now has been a complete physical and spiritual recovery. I want to be a physical and spiritual inspiration to whoever I can help out for any reason."

Alan Robinson has made big changes in his life and hopes his story will help inspire others who may be on the wrong path. In 1991, after a night of drinking and doing drugs, he crashed his car into a viaduct and severed his cervical spine. He couldn't move from the neck down and was considered a quadriplegic. He wasn't supposed to recover, but miraculously did. Today, the 56-year-old has turned his life around and is running marathons to push himself. He has completed 12 marathons and now wants to walk across the country!