On Wed, Jan 23rd , Los Gatos Morning Rotary (LGMR) recognized seven years of Lighting for Literacy (LFL) (http://www.lightingforliteracy.org/), to honor co-founder Doug McNeil.
What a wonderful way to start our Rotary Day!
On Wed, Jan 23rd, Los Gatos Morning Rotary (LGMR) recognized seven years of Lighting for Literacy (LFL) (http://www.lightingforliteracy.org/), to honor co-founder Doug McNeil.
Doug and past LGMRC member, the late Jesse Salem, co-founders of LFL, a humanitarian project for youth designed as an educational pathway through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). One thousand LFL units have been assembled and tested in-class by 3,000 students and deployed to global villages that are without electricity.
In the fall of 2017, Doug, age 59 was diagnosed with ALS. He’s unable to walk, talk or breath on his own and depends on a 24-hour-a-day life-support system. Yet, he is determined to defy the odds — ALS life expectancy is two-to-three-years.
Doug used a digital voice synthesizer technology, controlled by his eye movement to share the story of his life and his new life’s purpose. The room was silent as Doug’s courageous and inspirational words resonated in the hearts and the minds of the more than 90 guests.
As Rotarians, we always look for inspiration, driven by service above self, compassion, and grit to get done what needs to be done to make the world a bit easier for the less fortunate locally and globally.
After hearing Doug’s story of his early life, and the positive impact of his loving family, especially his father, we came to understand how he became the exemplary person that he is. His story reminds us all to live by our passion for good deeds and continued efforts to be the best we can be, even in the face of adversity. One person said, "A friend of mine once told me that there are only two ways to live your life, one is as though nothing is a miracle. The other, which you have chosen, is as everything is a miracle. This morning, Doug gave us a miracle”.
We love you Doug McNeil and count ourselves lucky to know you and be touched by the life example you lead. Thank you for sharing and visiting with us again. We miss you!
Join us to keep Doug McNeil on course to experience life's milestones and to continue his work to bring hope to those less fortunate. https://www.gofundme.com/doug-mcneil-fight-against-als.