# Heroes

Polio Patient Lived Amazing Life Inside an Iron Lung

Polio paralyzed Martha Mason from the neck down in 1948, and she spent the rest of her days inside an iron lung, an 800-pound airtight tube that breathed for her. But Mason, who died Monday at 71, made people forget about her fragile condition as she talked passionately about politics and literature, theology and vegetable gardens.

# Heroes

Paralyzed Soldier Completes London Marathon for Charity

Major Phil Packer lost both his legs in Iraq. Doctors back home said he would never walk again. Not only is Phil walking again (with canes), he has just finished the London marathon, walking two miles per day determined to raise a million pounds for charity.

# Heroes

News Moves US Couple Struggling in Business to Fund Egyptian Family

After reading online about an Egyptian pig farmer who had lost everything after his government's misguided attempt to prevent swine flu, an American couple struggling in their own furniture business sent more than a thousand dollars to help. The heart-wrenching story added a perspective to the couple's life and financial struggle that made it worthwhile.

# Heroes

Habitat for Humanity Gets $100 Million Gift

Habitat for Humanity has been given a $100 million gift from Atlanta developer J. Ronald Terwilliger, who said his work in the housing industry has offered him a look at the struggle of poor people to find decent housing. The nonprofit group announced Thursday it will be able to build 60,000 homes around the globe with the gift.

# Heroes

Laid Off? Join the Booming Non-Profit World

In the eleven years since Duncan McDougall quit his successful management consulting career to start the Children's Literacy Foundation he has touched the lives of more than 75,000 rural and at-risk readers across New Hampshire and Vermont.

# Heroes

Holistic Health Graduate Student Creates Scholarship

When it comes to college, Minneapolis, Minn. native Camille Thomas has two philosophies: it's never too early to plan to attend and it's never too soon to start helping a young person get there. Putting her money where her mouth is, Thomas has established a scholarship for students at her high school alma mater.

# Heroes

'Super Sherpa' Climbs to Clean Up Everest

Apa Sherpa has stood on top of the world more times than anyone in history, and now he is heading back up Mount Everest, not for the fame or glory, but in the name of environmental protection.

# Heroes

Britain's First Charity Donor to Give 1 Billion

Fulfilling a personal goal, former science minister and supermarket tycoon Lord Sainsbury has become the first Briton to give more than £1 billion to charity.