# Inspiring

iPod Saves Girl From Lightning Strike

Several days after receiving an iPod for her birthday, 14-year-old Sophie Frost, survived a terrifying lightning strike when the 300,000-volt surge travelled through the gadget's wire, diverting it away from her vital organs.

# Inspiring

Discarded Paintings Net Goodwill $150,000

The manager of the Goodwill store knew they were valuable the minute she laid her eyes on the luminous, framed canvases that were left overnight in the donation bin. They were taken to an auction house where they were sold for a combined total of more than $150,000.

# Inspiring

Road Sweeper gets Cambridge University Degree

As he was sweeping the streets of Cambridge, Allan Brigham was also brushing up on his local knowledge. Soon he was spending his days cleaning up the city and his spare time as a tour guide. And now, Allan, 52, is being awarded an honorary Master of Arts degree from Cambridge University.

# Inspiring

All Five Miraculously Escape as Plane Crashes into Pick-up Truck

All five people miraculously survived after a plane plowed head-on into a pick-up truck in a freak accident in South Africa. The light aircraft had taken off when it veered off course, crashed down on a secluded road, burst into flames and hurtled towards a group of friends, who later pulled the pilot to safety.

# Inspiring

Brain Surgery Activates Hidden Art Genius

The window salesman had a 16-hour operation after suffering a stroke – and discovered his inner artist had been awoken. Mr Brown, who freely admits that before he went under the knife he could barely draw a stick man, is poised to complete a fine arts degree and plans to open a gallery displaying his works.

# Inspiring

Boy Hears Back From Heaven After Writing Letter

Bailey, 11, tied a letter to God to a helium balloon and sent it flying into the sky, asking what it was like in heaven and whether miracles actually happened. There may or may not be a God, but there certainly are good people in the world, like the Brampton criminal lawyer who wrote back.

# Inspiring

London Tube Announcements Now Include Inspirational Sayings

London commuters are getting a dash of inspiration in their daily ride to work. Drivers on the Underground's Picadilly line have added to their service announcements the words of great thinkers such as Gandhi, Albert Einstein and Jean-Paul Sartre.

# Inspiring

New Bikes Help Kids Get to School in Zambia

With the goal of making it easier for thousands of children in Africa to get to school, World Bicycle Relief plans to give away 50,000 bicycles in Zambia, where long distances and a lack of transportation keeps many children from going to school.