Great story Jan. People like this really are inspirational.

I've found similar inspiration from the natural world, witnessing the struggle for survival against the odds. One episode sticks in my mind from a safari trip a couple of years ago. I witnessed a wildebeest migration crossing the Mara river when one unlucky calf became separated from its mother. It eventually made it to the other side, exhausted from the effort of crossing the river and scrambling up the steep bank, but by this time the herd had moved away. At this point, a pride of lions emerged from cover and I thought I was about to witness a quick kill. I didn't expect the calf to put up a fight, charging at the lions.


1D Mark IV, EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM +1.4x II @ f/4, 1/320s, ISO 200

In the end, the lions did take the calf to the ground, but apparently they were not hungry and they let it get up again. This was repeated a few times. The young lions clearly just wanted to practice their attacking technique but had no need to make a kill as they had already fed well. The calf was eventually reunited with the herd, with a few scars on its back.