Community Corner

Need Some Inspiration? 5 Stories You'll Love

Yes, everyday life can be a challenge. Need some inspiration from those who "climbed a mountain?"

Is life really so tough?

Well, yes, it can be.

Here, though, is to keeping things in perspective. For more than a month now, Patch and Grape-Nuts have teamed up to present stories about your neighbors - neighbors who have faced challenges that would seem insurmountable to many of us. 

Find out what's happening in Brickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But not to the people we've featured in this series, Journeys.

Not surprisingly, the stories have generated dozens of comments on Patch and on Facebook: "Great story..." "Thanks for sharing..." "So wonderfully inspiring..." 

Find out what's happening in Brickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

And, so, here they are again. Great stories shared to inspire. Take a look at what these people have faced. Then click on the story to see their responses. And, feel better about things.

'Oh Sandy' Anthology Uses Humor to Examine Seriousness of Historic Storm

A Matawan man with close ties to Union Beach was one of several Sandy survivors to be published in the collection titled "Oh Sandy: An Anthology of Humorous Stories for a Serious Cause."

After Seth Grumet, a father of three, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma three years ago, his daughter inspired a movement when she described his cancer as “the Monster under the floorboard...You just have to STOMP IT OUT!!”

Cancer Survivor Organizes 5k to Spread the Message: Get Checked and Get Active

Paulette Stallone kept running through her illness, and now she encourages others to do the same. The 48-year-old mother of two was diagnosed with colorectal cancer four years ago, and even during the worst of her treatment, she was determined to stay active.

Mom Stays Connected with Her Beloved Child Lost to Cancer

Sonia Brakowski provides comfort and hope to others with her inspirational book, Annette Opens The Door. Few losses are as painful to a parent then the loss of young child. Brakowski, a longtime Hazlet resident now retired and living with her husband in Delaware, endured that loss in 1975 when her beloved ten-year-old daughter Annette died of brain cancer.

Teen Launches Global Initiative in Memory of Caregiver

Matt Thekkethala established the Learn For Life Foundation to help educate less fortunate children in under-developed regions around the world. In memory of Katelyn “Katie” Ackerman of Lake Parsippany, a beloved caregiver who tragically died in an automobile accident last year.


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