# Heroes

Tribute to Sally Ride, First US Woman in Space (1951-2012)

Even though she was well known as a physicist, Sally Ride became famous for being the first American woman astronaut to enter space. A trailblazer at age 32, when the 1983 Challenger mission launched, she also became, and remains, the youngest American to enter space. Ride died peacefully on July 23, after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer, according to the obituary released by her company, Sally Ride Science, which creates programs to keep preteens and their teachers engaged in science.

# Heroes

Grieving Father Offers Teens Money Not to Drink, 140 Take the Challenge

Five years ago, Leo McCarthy lost his 14-year-old daughter, Mariah, when a drunken driver hit her and two of her friends as they walked down a sidewalk near her home. But he refused to let her tragic death become just another statistic. Knowing that the driver was 20 years old -- not even old enough to drink legally -- McCarthy made an unusual promise to the teenagers attending Mariah's memorial service in Butte, Montana.

# Heroes

Patience and Drive Earns Down's Syndrome Man a Black Belt

A young man with Down's Syndrome has earned a black belt in karate, inspired by Bruce Lee movies he studied as a child. Dustin Bean of Longview, Washington worked for 13 years, quickly moving from a special abilities class to regular classes to earn the coveted black belt. His mom said her son has high expectations for himself. He doesn't think he can't do something... He can do anything.

# Heroes

Women Secretly Deliver Cakes to Poor Families for Over 34 Years

For more than three decades, nine women have been secretly baking and delivering hundreds of pound cakes in the middle of the night to people in Tennessee who could benefit from knowing that somebody out there loves them. They also secretly pay utility bills for widows or single moms in need. In all, they have contributed nearly $900,000 to the happiness of others.

# Heroes

Unemployed Hero Saves Baby from Oncoming Subway - Job Offers Pour in

A sudden gust of wind blew a baby stroller onto the tracks as a train rumbled into a NY station — but an unemployed Brooklyn man on his way to a job interview jumped off the platform and saved the tot from certain death, authorities said. He missed the job interview but after news of his heroics spread, he received numerous job offers.

# Heroes

Elusive Tangled Whale Freed Of Fishnets Off Sonoma Coast

A gray whale that had been tangled in a fishing net for more than three weeks as it swam up the California coast was finally disentangled Thursday by a fishing boat crew out of Bodega Bay.

# Heroes

Columbia University Janitor Graduates With Honors

A Yugoslavian-born custodian at New York's Columbia University will be trading in his uniform for a cap and gown this weekend when he graduates with honors after working on his degree for 12 years.

# Heroes

Mom Will Sell Family Heirlooms to Help Son's Killers

A mother whose son was stabbed to death by four members of a hooded gang plans to sell her family heirlooms to help his killers. Fatemah Golmakani, 56, also said she wants to "tell them that someone loves them".