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Russ Cook Runs 385 Marathons In 352 Days, Becomes First Man To Run Entire Length Of Africa

Russ Cook Runs 385 Marathons In 352 Days, Becomes First Man To Run Entire Length Of Africa

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SunnySkyz | April 8, 2024 | Russ Cook | Shield Blog | Click here for a quote on your insurance

Russ Cook, a 27-year-old from Worthing, West Sussex, has etched his name in the annals of history by accomplishing a remarkable feat: becoming the first person ever to run the entire length of Africa.

His incredible journey spanned 16 countries, covering a distance equivalent to 385 marathons, and concluded after 352 days of unwavering determination and perseverance.

Setting off from South Africa’s southernmost point on April 22, 2023, Russ Cook embarked on a monumental quest to traverse the vast and diverse terrain of the African continent.

From bustling cities to dense rainforests, towering mountains, and the unforgiving expanse of the Sahara Desert, he braved every obstacle in his path with indomitable spirit.

However, Russ’s journey was not without its share of challenges and dangers. Along the way, he encountered harrowing incidents, including a terrifying armed robbery in Angola where he and his support team were stripped of their belongings at gunpoint.

In another chilling ordeal, he was kidnapped by a gang in Congo, armed with machetes, and transported deep into the jungle before being rescued by his vigilant team.

Reflecting on these perilous encounters, Russ confessed, “I’ll be honest. It was the scariest, scariest couple of days ever of my life,” during an interview with Good Morning Britain.

Despite facing adversities that would deter most, Russ remained resolute in his mission. Even when confronted with health issues, such as blood in his urine and debilitating back pain, he pressed on, running more than a marathon’s distance each day.

Russ Cook was faced with logistical problems

Only compelled to pause for logistical reasons, like visa requirements, or when medical professionals intervened, Russ’s commitment to his cause never wavered.

There were moments of sheer exhaustion and despair, including instances where he couldn’t keep food down for over 24 hours and endured sleepless nights.

As Russ approached the culmination of his monumental journey, he was greeted by a wave of support from around the globe. Joined by enthusiastic well-wishers for the final leg of his odyssey, he crossed the finish line in Tunisia on April 7, 2024, marking the triumphant conclusion of an extraordinary adventure.

In addition to his personal triumph, Russ’s incredible feat has also been a beacon of hope for many. Through his awe-inspiring endeavor, he has raised over £700,000 for charity, embodying the power of altruism and compassion.

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Restaurant's Quest For Mystery 'French Fry Girl' Ends In Heartwarming Discovery

Restaurant’s Quest For Mystery ‘ French Fry Girl ‘ Ends In Heartwarming Discovery

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SunnySkyz.com | March 28, 2024 | French Fry Girl | Shield Insurance Agency Blog

It was the biggest mystery in the state of Oklahoma. A mystery that involves what sounded over the phone to be a preschooler who really wanted some “Fwench Fwies.”

In late February, Noble Smokin’ Joes BBQ in Oklahoma found itself bombarded with persistent calls from children, all with the same peculiar request: French fries delivered straight to their doorstep.

SunnySkyz | March 28, 2024 | French Fry Girl | Shield Insurance Blog

It was the biggest mystery in the state of Oklahoma. A mystery that involves what sounded over the phone to be a preschooler who really wanted some “Fwench Fwies.”

In late February, Noble Smokin’ Joes BBQ in Oklahoma found itself bombarded with persistent calls from children, all with the same peculiar request: French fries delivered straight to their doorstep.

Somer Williams, the restaurant owner, found herself at the center of an unexpected saga.

“It was last Monday when I picked up the phone at the restaurant,” Williams recalled in an interview. “A voice that sounded like it came from a very young child asked me if she could have some French fries,” she added. “I told her I was glad to help but needed to speak to an adult- the voice told me a parent was not close by.”

Day after day, the calls persisted. Eventually, more young voices had joined the French Fry girl on the phone.

“Another girl said they would try to come to the restaurant, but their car was broken down- she said it would cost 15 dollars to repair,” Williams said. “Suddenly they wanted two Fwench Fwies and two dwinks. One told me they were in pre-K and I said, ‘No way’ and they said, ‘Yes, way’.”

The continuous calls prompted Williams to take action. She turned to social media, hoping to unravel the mystery behind the mysterious callers.

French Fry Girl Facebook Post

“I posted on Facebook trying to figure out who was on the other end of the line,” Williams explained. Little did she know, her posts would go viral, drawing attention from people across the globe who eagerly followed the unfolding story.

Determined to crack the case, Williams devised a clever plan to elicit information during the next call. “I’m going to give a French fry party to your school if I can talk to your mom,” she declared to the persistent callers. However, the children remained elusive, with one even posing as a parent during the conversation.

Undeterred, Williams seized upon a crucial clue – the name of their dog, Beethoven. With this information in hand, she embarked on a mission, contacting nearby elementary schools in search of the French fry enthusiasts.

“When everyone heard about Beethoven, it was clear that this was a sure way to find them!” Williams exclaimed. The schools rallied behind the cause, making announcements over the intercom in a collective effort to solve the mystery.

“When everyone heard about Beethoven it was clear that this was a sure way to find them! One school made an all call over the intercom for anyone who owns a dog named Beethoven to come to the office. All the schools got really invested. I’m pretty sure all the kids did too in hopes the French fry kid was in their class so they could have the French fry party,” Williams said.

Finally, the breakthrough came when Katherine I. Daily Elementary identified the hungry culprits: Emily, Miley, and Linda.

french fry girl
Williams (right) and the three mystery callers

On March 26, 2024, the much-anticipated French fry parties became a reality, as the trio of friends celebrated with their classmates, thanks to Williams’ determination and the collaborative spirit of the community.

“It was really fun trying to find them,” Williams confessed. “I did not know it would go so worldwide.”

Click here for the full story and some great pictures!

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This Elementary School Is Fundraising With A Twist - SERVING Instead Of Selling

This Elementary School Is Fundraising With A Twist – SERVING Instead Of Selling

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SunnySkyz.com | March 27, 2024 | Serving Instead of Selling | Visit the Shield Blog

Today’s good news story comes from Dover, Ohio.

In a world often dominated by sales pitches and fundraising campaigns, one elementary school in Ohio is rewriting the script by spreading kindness instead of selling goods. Dover Elementary’s Parent Teacher Group (PTG) has initiated a heartwarming fundraising campaign where acts of kindness take center stage.

Led by PTG President Ericka Koffa, the school community has embraced the concept of “serving instead of selling.” Instead of the typical cookie dough or gift wrap sales, students are encouraged to engage in planned and spontaneous acts of kindness both within the school grounds and beyond.

Serving Instead of Selling

Koffa elaborated on the initiative, emphasizing the importance of giving back to the community. “We’re serving instead of selling. Getting our kids out into the community [and] giving back,” she stated. “The concept is they’re paying the community’s generosity forward by completing acts of kindness at home, at school, and in the community.”

Fifth-grader Aaliyah Garner shared her understanding of kindness, highlighting the various ways students contribute to the initiative. “We help around the school by doing random acts of kindness like giving out morning greetings and cards sometimes. Being kind to everybody in the school and never being rude to anyone, and helping people when they need it.”

The acts of kindness orchestrated by Dover Elementary students encompass a wide range of gestures, from writing letters to those in need to distributing kindness cards and lending a hand to the elderly. With QR codes facilitating donations, the impact of these acts extends far beyond the school’s walls.

“I’ve just seen so many of our kids light up when people are calling out their kindness and noticing them for being kind,” remarked Koffa. “We feel like we’re on the verge of changing some lives.”

Click here for the full story…

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A rare 'ghost of the forest' deer has been spotted wandering the premises of a Tennessee property, with the homeowner.

Nature’s Hidden Gem: Rare Albino Deer Captivates Tennessee Yard!

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The Mirror.com | By Alan Johnson | Albino Deer | Start An Insurance Quote Today! | More Blogs

Rarely-seen ‘ghost of the forest’ albino deer spotted in Tennessee yard

Spring Hill resident, Abbey Cabler, has described the moment she and her husband first caught sight of the animal in scenes she said were like ‘something from a Christmas movie’

A rare ‘ghost of the forest’ deer has been spotted wandering the premises of a Tennessee property, with the homeowner.

The Albino Deer

The albino mammal was first seen on Tuesday, October 24, by Abbey Cabler’s husband in their Spring Hill yard. Abbey, who later caught a glimpse of it herself in a sighting, described it as a “surreal kind of almost like mystical experience”. According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), experts believe albinism in deer is a phenomenon that occurs in approximately one in 20,000 to 30,000 animals.

Recalling her spouse’s experience with the deer, Abbey explained: “All of a sudden I hear my husband go, ‘Oh my gosh babe! Get out here now’, like kind of freaking out, kind of panicky, and I run out there and he goes, ‘There is a white deer. I swear.’ And we look out the window and sure enough there he is – just kind of like right on the other side of our porch, closer to the tree line just eating away on the bushes.”

The Albino Deer near the porch

Recalling her spouse’s experience with the deer, Abbey explained: “All of a sudden I hear my husband go, ‘Oh my gosh babe! Get out here now’, like kind of freaking out, kind of panicky, and I run out there and he goes, ‘There is a white deer. I swear.’ And we look out the window and sure enough there he is – just kind of like right on the other side of our porch, closer to the tree line just eating away on the bushes.”

Visit The Mirror for the full story…

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Passionate Horror Fan Now Earns Thousands Teaching Creepy Make-Up Looks on Social Media

Passionate Horror Fan Now Earns Thousands Teaching Creepy Make-Up Looks on Social Media

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Good News Network | Oct 1, 2023 | Creepy Make-Up | More Blogs by Shield Insurance Agency

Meet the horror movie obsessive who now earns thousands every month sharing her creepy make-up techniques from her home in the UK.

Natasha Jane Wood used to “sneak downstairs” and watch her favorite gory blockbusters when she was a young girl.

“It probably sounds crazy but I used to fall asleep watching ’28 Days Later,’ which is a zombie movie,” said the 28-year-old. “I just found it so soothing.”

Creepy Make-Up and Special Effects

Inspired by Hollywood icons Tim Burton and Stephen King, Natasha had studied special effects makeup at Bolton University in 2019—but the pandemic provided the perfect chance to try new techniques when she was furloughed from her job at a jewelry store.

Honing her skills from her childhood bedroom in Darwen, Lancashire, Natasha found online fame after uploading her sinister looks to TikTok. She has since amassed over six million followers on social media and made her passion a full-time career.

“It all just kicked off in 2020 when I did my ‘Disney Princesses Gone Wrong’ series on TikTok. A video I did transforming myself into Jim Carrey’s ‘The Mask’ has over 100 million views on YouTube.

“My little brother and sister thought it was a bit cringe at first, but now I have the same amount of YouTube subscribers as some of their favorite content creators.”

The Disney Princess series included Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Belle.

“They were inspired by the Grimm Brothers, who did the original versions of the stories,” she told Southwest News Service. “With Beauty and the Beast, for example, I did one where she actually got scratched by the beast, so it turned quite gory.

“With Disney, it’s all happily ever after, but you don’t really see what would happen if it went wrong.

LOOK: One-Legged Man Turns His Amputation Into the Best Halloween Costumes Ever

When TikTok began cracking down on gore (even fake gore) she turned herself into an unfinished Mona Lisa painting.

Check the link for the full story and some great pics!

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A school bus driver in Berkeley County, South Carolina, has managed to make a profound impact on the life of a kindergartner.

An Angel On Earth: Bus Driver Changes Kindergartner’s Life

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SunnySkyz | June 17, 2023 | Bus Driver | More Blog Articles | Start A Quote Here

“There’s a reason why Mr. Charles was brought here, and there’s a reason why he’s driving Bus 220, and Kameron is the reason.”

A school bus driver in Berkeley County, South Carolina, has managed to make a profound impact on the life of a kindergartner.

Kameron, a kindergartener at Cane Bay Elementary, was having trouble behaving in class earlier this year. He was in the principal’s office several times a day almost every single day, his mom Kelly Eisenberg said.

One day, Kameron’s teacher Stephanie Williams walked him to the bus early before the rest of the students were dismissed. She asked the driver, Charles Frierson, if he could come on the bus early because Kameron loved school buses.

“He sat down and we started talking, and, it just went from there,” said Mr. Charles, who recently switched school districts to drive for Berkeley County.

From that day on, Kameron’s good behavior in class was rewarded with getting to sit on the bus early and spend time with Mr. Charles.

“He will work all day long and he will behave and follow all directions all day long to have five minutes with Mr. Charles,” Williams said.

“And ever since that day, there’s not been a problem. He’s been fantastic and wonderful,” she said.

Mr. Charles and Kameron regularly have McDonald’s and ice cream dates. He even attends Kameron’s baseball games on the weekends.

“I always believed angles come when you least expect them,” Eisenberg wrote in a letter. “This holds especially true in regards to Mr. Charles, the bus driver of school bus 220 of Berkely County South Carolina.”

“It has always been said that it takes a village to raise a child, yet one to make a difference. Mr. Charles has absolutely made the difference in my son,” she said. “I would like him to know how much we truly and absolutely appreciate him for who he is and what he has done for my son.”

Don’t miss this heart warming video!

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A dog recently found over 150 golf discs in the area.

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Local Dog Finds Over 150 Golf Discs, Raises Money For Shelter And Park

SunnySkyz | June 27, 2023 | Golf Discs | Pet Insurance | Meet the Agents of Shield Insurance

A dog in Moundsville, West Virginia, has captured the attention and admiration of the community by single-handedly finding over 150 lost golf discs at a popular park.

Unclaimed discs will be on sale, with proceeds going to the park.

Daisy is a four-year-old Labrador Retriever who loves going on walks with her owner, Kelly Mason, at Grand Vue Park.

Every day, they walk about five miles through the park. Sometimes, Daisy goes on her own adventure and returns with a souvenir.

“Daisy, my yellow Labrador retriever has a nose for finding discs,” Mason told WTRF. “We will be walking through the park and her nose will go up. She can smell ’em, and she just goes off. She could go off 30 yards through the multiflorosa, the high weeds. And here she comes with a disc.”

Since she found her first disc about three years ago, Daisy has retrieved 155 of them with no plans of stopping anytime soon.

The park recently teamed up with Mason to create a program called “Daisy’s Discs”.

“Normally when park staff finds them or when our park guests find them, all of them are turned into the into the barn area,” says Ben Bolock, the assistant general manager at Grand Vue Park. “Some discs that have names on them, we call them, and people are able to come and pick them up. During that time, they can make a donation to Daisy’s Discs and that that money will fund the Marshall County Animal Rescue League. If discs are found and there’s no name on them and we’ve had them for a long period of time, and nobody has claimed them, the park will sell them for a very low amount and that money will go back into the disc golf course.”

Watch the good news video below from WTRF Chanel 7

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The History of Memorial Day

The History of Memorial Day

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HISTORY.COM | APRIL 20, 2023 | Memorial Day | Shield Insurance Agency | Start A Quote Today!

The Birthplace of Memorial Day and Early Observances

The Civil War, which ended in the spring of 1865, claimed more lives than any conflict
in U.S. history and required the establishment of the country’s first national
cemeteries.

By the late 1860s, Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding
springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with
flowers and reciting prayers.

It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different communities
may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. And some records show
that one of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations was organized by a group of
formerly enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina less than a month after the
Confederacy surrendered in 1865. Nevertheless, in 1966 the federal government
declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day.

Waterloo—which first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—was chosen because it
hosted an annual, community-wide event, during which businesses closed and
residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

Did you know? Each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time.

Decoration Day

On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed.

The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.

On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Civil War soldiers buried there.

Many Northern states held similar commemorative events and reprised the tradition in subsequent years; by 1890 each one had made Decoration Day an official state holiday. Southern states, on the other hand, continued to honor the dead on separate days until after World War I.

History of Memorial Day

Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars, including World War II, The Vietnam War, The Korean War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date General Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.

Memorial Day Traditions and Rituals 

Cities and towns across the United States host Memorial Day parades each year, often incorporating military personnel and members of veterans’ organizations. Some of the largest parades take place in Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C.

Americans also observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials. Some people wear a red poppy in remembrance of those fallen in war—a tradition that began with a World War I poem. On a less somber note, many people take weekend trips or throw parties and barbecues on the holiday, perhaps because Memorial Day weekend—the long weekend comprising the Saturday and Sunday before Memorial Day and Memorial Day itself—unofficially marks the beginning of summer.

Visit History.com for the full story and some great photos

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February is Black History Month

February is Black History Month

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History.com | NOV 30, 2022 | Black History | Get a free quote today! | Shield Insurance

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.

Origins of Black History Month

The story of Black History Month begins in 1915, half a century after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States.

That September, the Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson, and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent.

Known today as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the group sponsored a national Negro History week in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The event inspired schools and communities nationwide to organize local celebrations, establish history clubs, and host performances and lectures.

Did you know? The NAACP was founded on February 12, 1909, the centennial anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.

In the decades that followed, mayors of cities across the country began issuing yearly proclamations recognizing “Negro History Week.” By the late 1960s, thanks in part to the civil rights movement and a growing awareness of Black identity, “Negro History Week” had evolved into Black History Month on many college campuses.

President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Today, Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society—from activists and civil rights pioneers such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Rosa Parks to leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and more. 

Black History Month 2023 Theme

Since 1976, every American president has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme.

The Black History Month 2023 theme, “Black Resistance,” explores how “African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms and police killings,” since the nation’s earliest days. 

Read More about Black History Month…

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Not Sure What to Wear on Halloween? Google Just Ranked the Most Popular Costumes of 2022

Not Sure What to Wear on Halloween?

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Not Sure What to Wear on Halloween? Google Just Ranked the Most Popular Costumes of 2022

Expect to see a few familiar scary faces (and some pop culture favorites!) on Halloween, October 31.

MarthaStewart.com | By Nashia Baker | October 18, 2022

If you’re like Martha, dressing up for Halloween is probably one of your favorite parts of the spooky holiday. And on October 31, you certainly won’t be alone: Your neighborhood’s streets will be filled with trick-or-treaters (and their parents!) in costumes fit for the occasion.

When you do step out in character this year, you might notice a few recurring themes. According to Google Trends’ 2022 FrightGeist report, which highlighted the most-searched Halloween costumes across the United States, a few familiar monsters will prowl the streets, candy baskets in hand—but there will likely be some creative pop-culture references and beloved superheroes, too. As for the look you’ll see in droves on Halloween night? Google users searched most for a witch costume.

The runner-up spot was claimed by a famed movie and TV character: Spider-Man was the second most-searched costume. Rounding out the top three is an ancient, extinct creature that, on any other night, exists in fossil form only: Halloween enthusiasts plan to don plenty of dinosaur costumes in 2022.

Related: 15 Last-Minute Costume Ideas for Halloween

Creatures of the past and champions of the present aren’t the only costume themes that have captured trick-or-treaters’ interests this year: Google users are also planning on dressing up as characters from Netflix’s Stranger Things, which clocked in at number four (not Eleven!). And if you were considering being something more fearsome, think again. The fifth most-searched pick, a fairy, proves that ethereal and whimsical options are trending, too.

Want to see how your Halloween costume ranks on Google Trends’ list this year? Discover the 20 most-searched costumes, below—and visit FrightGeist for the full list.

Click here for the full list…

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