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Hed Cycling CEO Anne Hed. Photo: Enterprise Minnesota

Our top five stories from August:

5. George Garcia Jr. Will Compete In The Nautica Malibu Triathlon For The Fifth Time As An Amputee

George Garcia Jr. could have quit. He could have resolved to living the rest of his life in a wheelchair and faced the realities of his accident without trying to change his fate. But something inspired Garcia to take charge and make a change. He wanted to be active, to raise his son with optimism and energy. He wanted a new leg.

In 2009, after a motorcycle accident on a California road that forced the amputation of his right leg, Garcia struggled to get back on his feet. He left the hospital after the accident with no insurance, no money and a $200 wheelchair that he bought on Craigslist. A motorsports fan and a childhood baseball player, Garcia resolved that he would have to do something if he wanted to be active again.

4. Pro Fitness Model Andrew Jones Doesn’t Have A Pulse, But Has Plenty of Heart

Today, Jones doesn’t have a pulse, but that hasn’t stopped him from hitting the gym like any professional athlete. The only difference is he has to carry a backpack at all times to keep his “heart” ticking.

“I’m pretty much the best looking zombie you’ll ever see,” he told Great Big Story.

3. Being Legally Blind Doesn’t Stop Teen From Skimboarding, Skateboarding, or Cycling

Ever since Kai discovered he had RP more than three years ago, he’s been “figuring out a way.” And that has included finding ways to skimboard across the waves on a crowded beach, continuing to do gymnastics and tumbling, cycling, skateboarding down ramps, and especially taking on new challenges. With continual support from his family as well as advocates such as his psychologist, Joe Kropp, Kai is always encouraged to see what else he can do, rather than worry about what he cannot.

2. Italian Chef Massimo Bottura Turns Wasted Olympic Village Food Into Meals For Rio’s Homeless

The renowned chef, whose three-star Michelin restaurant, Franciscan Osteria, in Modena decided to take action. In less than two months, he concocted a plan to serve gourmet meals to 70 homeless Brazilians every night using leftovers from the Olympic Games.

Don’t think it’s meatloaf and mashed potatoes either. With Brazilian chef David Hertz, the two are masterfully plating sautéed beef and panzanella alongside Italian-style couscous. And other big-name chefs are taking their turn in the kitchen, too.

1. HED Cycling’s Anne Hed Digs Deep To Pedal Forward After Losing Her Husband

Whether slogging through Midwestern snow on fat tires, or sailing across heated asphalt on thin wheels, Anne Hed keeps active year-round.

That’s because the 54-year-old CEO of HED Cycling and former professional triathlete values her ability to pedal forward both on the road, and in life.

HED Cycling revolutionized bicycle wheels and components in the 1980’s when company founder Steve Hed emerged from his garage with dirt under the nails, and an affordable and aerodynamic disc wheel. He wasn’t exactly the pioneer of the design, but with Anne’s help, they were able to bring these lightweight products to the masses, and to some of the world’s top cyclists through the viaduct of the triathlon community.