Good News
Blind & deaf British backpacker reflects on 17 years of solo travelling through 125 countries
Meet intrepid backpacker Tony Giles who has visited 125 countries around the world on his own - despite being BLIND and DEAF. Daredevil Tony, 39, lost his vision at the age of 10 but learned to travel solo while commuting to his special school as a teenager. He then set himself the target of visiting every country in the world because it was "the biggest challenge possible for a blind person". Argentinian City of Ushuaia in the background. Meet intrepid...
World’s biggest sleepout raises £3.6m to end homelessness
Over 8,000 people came together in Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens this weekend to show their support for homeless people in Scotland by taking part in the world’s biggest sleepout, Sleep in the Park. Organised by Social Bite, donations topped £3.6m as the event began. Participants each raised a minimum of £100 each to attend the night, enjoying stripped back ‘busking’ sets from Liam Gallagher, Deacon Blue, Amy Macdonald and Frightened Rabbit before sleeping out. John Cleese told a bedtime story...
Five rhino calves reintroduced into the wild with help from bighearted Scots
These moving pictures show the release of five orphaned rhino calves back into the South African wild -- thanks to the help of kindhearted Scottish volunteers. The calves were all victims of poaching –- their mothers murdered for their horns -- and were rescued by charity Rhino Revolution. Through the UK arm of the charity, passionate Scots volunteers have been banding together to fundraise for the project. Five orphan rhino's that have been dehorned. These moving pictures show the release...
Man takes stunning pictures of wildlife while recovering from a stroke
A man who suffered a stroke so severe he almost lost his ability to speak has won a prize after he turned to photography to help him recover. Richard Raynor, 36, was even able to give a speech at his wedding with the help of slides he had taken. The former business consultant from Chilton, Oxon., developed aphasia - a communication difficulty with speaking, reading and writing - after his stroke in 2012. His sensational snaps have now won him...
Kickboxing kid comes back from disease to become world champion again
A former kickboxing world champ who was forced to throw in the towel at just seven years old due to a disease has fought back to winning ways by breaking records. Brandon Murray became a world champion at just seven years old - beating nine-year-olds in the process. But the youngster was forced to give up kickboxing after being diagnosed with Perthes disease in 2012. Brandon, now 12, was in primary school when his mum Vicky and dad Brian noticed...
Fitness fanatic saves police officer’s life using martial arts technique learnt on YouTube
A 5ft 6ins labourer has told how he saved the life of a police officer being strangled in the street - by using a martial arts move he learnt on YouTube. Joshua-Jon Hill, 26, was on a bus travelling home from the gym when he saw a thug grappling with a policeman on the street with his hands around the officer's neck. Brave Joshua-Jon ordered the bus driver to stop and leapt to the officer's aid during the attack in...
Football coach who was told he would never walk smashes TWO marathons
A football coach told at birth he would never be able to walk has run two marathons and raised almost £30,000 for charity. Patrick Barden, 24, conquered the London Marathon and the Manchester Half Marathon to raise funds for the cerebral palsy and motor difficulties charity Step and Learn. The sports and exercise science graduate, who has cerebral palsy, now has his sights set on the New York Marathon next year. So far Patrick has raised £27,000 for Step and...
World War II pilot fulfils dream of “one last flight”
A World War II pilot who was desperate for "one last flight" has fulfilled his dream after he took to the skies at the age of 96. George Harvey flew bombing raids behind enemy lines during the conflict after joining the RAF in 1939. Now the 96-year-old has taken off in the cockpit from the RAF Lossiemouth military base in Moray and held the controls for the final time. Mr Harvey's carer Claire Nias was responsible for looking after the...
Hero pulled a disabled man from a canal after a gust of wind pushed him in.
A young man has been hailed a hero after he pulled a disabled man from a canal after a gust of wind pushed him and his mobility scooter into the water. Allan Meehan, 46, said he had a vision of his mother as he sank into the canal, fearing he was about to meet his end. He doesn't have the use of his left arm and would have been unable to save himself without help. But brave Christopher McCluskey, 32,...