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Articles
Pat Johns: Athlete, Photographer, Agent of
Change It is frightening. It is uncomfortable. It is life altering. But it is also exciting and invigorating. It is change, and according to Pat Johns, photojournalist and motivational speaker, it does a body good. He should know. A suburban soccer-dad-turned-consummate-athlete, Johns is the only person in the world to complete the rigorous 100-mile Himalayan marathon four times. “This race is truly the most beautiful course in the world. You can’t deny that because you are in view of four of five of the world’s tallest peaks. The payback in part is the beauty, the cultural experience, and the camaraderie. The race is so gut-wrenching hard; it is really whipping. Once you come out on the other end of a deal like that you are forever changed. At this point, no payback is tied to endorphins. You are past the point of endorphins,” Johns said. Johns calls himself an agent for change. He has spoken to Rotary clubs, financial advisors, American Red Cross staff, high school students, and organizations for weight-challenged individuals and the blind. Regardless of the audience, his universal message tickles the buried dreams in people’s minds and inspires them to tackle their hearts’ desires. (more) To read the complete article, click
<here>
A Quest for Safe Water - The Road to Livingstonia Pat Johns and Kim Holland's efforts focus on a desperate need people face around the world. Featured Story - Profile Magazine Heather Darrow - November 2007 When Pat Johns and Kim Holland traveled to Africa with six colleagues, they weren’t just looking for big game animals in their native habitats. They were on a quest for global safe, clean water. What they found was a disquieting new perspective. “It hit home for me when I was photographing people on a trail. I spoke with a first-grade teacher. I told him I was 53. He very calmly said, ‘Oh, I won’t live to be that old here.’ There is a startling amount of people that die because of AIDS and bad water. For them, the normal life expectancy is in the mid-40s. They are not emotional about it at all,” Johns said. Johns is a member of the Dallas Evening Rotary Club, the most international local club with members from Argentina, Nicaragua, Honduras, Peru, Mexico, Bolivia, Columbia, Cuba, and the U.S. An author, Johns is also the Rotary International District 5810 photojournalist. Holland is the 2006-2007 past governor of Rotary International District 5810. The first female governor of the 63-club district, she is currently the coordinator for water for Rotary Zone 26, which covers eight Rotary districts in the middle section of the U.S. For Johns the journey to Africa began when he worked with his civil rights activist aunt in the late 1960s. His 2000 trip to India deepened his understanding of relief and the needs of people around the world, and his passion for others was rekindled when he traveled to Ethiopia in 2002. To read the complete article, click <here>
Dallas Runner
Tackles
Himalayan 100
Race
To hear the audio of this NPR presentation, click <here> DALLAS, TX (2006-01-06) Patrick Johns, Dallas motivational speaker: In the early 1900's, the Aga Kahn, who ruled much of India, gave an order. He said build me a trail. He had heard of a place where it was possible to see "four giants" and he wanted a way to get there, a way to see for himself. The giants are four of the tallest peaks in the world. Mt. Everest, Lotse, Makalu and Kantchanjunga. Much of The Himalayan 100 race is run on the Kahn's old trail, which serves as the border between India and Nepal. For the last 15 years this race and this trail have attracted some of the world's most elite endurance runners. As an athlete and motivational speaker, I first came here in 2000 to understand the core values of this highly motivated group. I discovered what I call the Five C's: Leaving your comfort zone, commitment, connection, common sense, and compassion. This year I want to validate the inspirational talk I've built around these Five C's. (Music) I'm in Manybangjang, a small hamlet
village in the West Bengal Region of India, and
the locals have come out to serenade us and tie
prayers scarves around our necks. I know we're
going to need all the prayers we can get as 70
competitors, the biggest group ever, gathers at
the starting line on this cold October morning.
(more)
In
misery, Johns sees mystery
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