"One Leg Greg"

Photo via Facebook "One Leg Greg"

A Joliet cyclist who calls himself "One Leg Greg" hopes to represent the US in the Paralympic Games next year in London.  

34-year-old Greg Beene lost his leg in a motorcycle accident in 2003.  After the devastating accident, he worked tirelessly to learn how to live (and thrive!) with just one leg. 

He learned how to ride a bicycle and is now training to get a spot on the paralympic cycling team by riding about 200 miles a week.  He pedals with just one leg, but uses a prosthetic that attaches to the bike frame to help balance him out. 

Beene hopes his story will help inspire others who have lost a limb to reach their goals.  His dream is to make it to the Olympics, and he's created a website called OneLegGreg for people to follow him on his journey. At the website, you can also make a donation to help make his dream a reality.  He's hoping the donations will help him get a new road bike and pay for coaching and travel expenses. 

Check out this video from Beene's website: 

Sun-Times Media has a great story about Greg and his quest for Olympic fame:  "One Leg Greg" of Joliet hopes to reach Paralympics

Devin Hester Has A New Job

He's a star on the field for the Chicago Bears, but now he wants to shine as an example off the field as well. Devin Hester just started writing a column for Chicago Parent magazine to help inspire men to be good role models for their children.

Devin will write a monthly column for the magazine that will appear in print and online here. It will be all about his adventures spending time with his adorable one-year-old son, also named Devin.   He's already written about taking the little guy to the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, the Living Sea Aquarium in Park Ridge, and the lakefront.

Hester and his son on the cover of the June issue of Chicago Parent

Here's what Devin says about being a new parent in one of his columns:

 "When I was younger, someone told me that the greatest gift a child could ever receive was time with his or her parents. That's always stuck with me and I do everything I can to not focus so much on what toys I get for Devin, but on how much time I spend with him."

The NFL star hopes his column can help show men how important it is for them to play a big role in their kids' lives.

Chicago Parent filmed part of the cover photo shoot with the two Devin's!  Take a look:

Happy Father's Day!

Here are some uplifting stories for Father's Day!

ABC 7:  Aurora Woman Reunites with Father Online

"I always dreamed of what my girl would be.  She has exceeded every expectation I ever had."   

A 23-year-old Aurora woman just found her biological dad online and spoke with him for the first time via Skype.  She was nervous that he wouldn't want to be a part of her life, knowing that he had her when he was just 15-years-old.   But that wasn't the case at all.  The two plan to meet in person next month in the UK, where he lives!

The Beacon-News: Daughter Learns Perseverance From Oswego Dad

“I learned to move when my Dad was in a wheelchair, and I took my first steps as he tried to walk in his walker.  I remember seeing my Dad next to me, trying to walk with me.”

An Oswego Dad and his daughter share a special bond-- they learned to walk at the same time.  Michael Bemish was hit by a drunk driver in 1999 and was in a coma for a week.  Just six months before the accident, his daughter Katelyn was born.  When Michael was released from the hospital, he had to relearn how to walk.

Photo via Sun-Times Media/ Brian Powers

Windy City Live: World's Greatest Dad

A single dad from Kenilworth gained a new perspective on life after fighting and beating cancer.  He left his job in corporate America and became a stay-at-home dad, blogging about the lessons he learned during his lifetime.  He recently wrote a book called, Bobblehead Dad, based on the blog he writes for TribLocal. He was also named "World's Greatest Dad" by Man of the House magazine.