You've no doubt heard the phrase, laughter is the best medicine. Together a married couple known as Linny and Mo dispense that medicine every week. They spread cheer throughout Rex Hospital in Raleigh as volunteer clowns. "We do it because of the feedback we get from people about how much it helps and the requests for repeat visits and all the research done in the last 30 years on humor and laughter and the positive effect on health and healing and that motivates us to keep coming" said Mona Webb. Mona says a nurse once told her Linny was able to do something for a patient that drugs couldn't. "She said I want you to know I just went in there and that patient's blood pressure had stabilized for the first time since she's been in the hospital and she said I asked her what happened and she said the clown came in" said Webb. The couple has won over many patients. "Makes you feel a whole lot better knowing that somebody is trying to make everybody happy" said patient Mayhue West....

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Anyone awarded the military's silver star, two bronze stars and other awards for military service might be called extraordinary on those things alone. But not Bob Stone. At 71 and struggling with health problems he is a volunteer with five different organizations in Wayne County. Stone is a volunteer in Wayne County with the Disabled American Veterans, The Military Order of the Purple Heart and The Veterans of Foreign Wars. Stone also gives his time to the Lions Club and The Red Cross. "I've always been a giver. If someone is down on their luck I would rather help them up than push them down further." Stone said. Stone has traveled the country as a damage assessor for the Red Cross. "It's people first. He always treats you like he's your best friend. He's always happy to see you. He is just one of those really special people and our chapter and our community feel real fortunate to have him be a part of what we do here." said Wayne County Red Cross Executive Director Chuck...

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Remember when kid love letters consisted of will you go with me yes or no? That kind of innocence is long gone for many kids. Toni Cuttino says when her son was 14 he was coming home with sexually explicit letters written by female classmates. "I couldn't believe it. I was like what? I've never met girls who were so pushy, so aggressive," said Cuttino. Cuttino decided to start a mentoring program for middle school girls to instill self love and self worth. She calls it SISTA, Successful Individuals Striving Toward Achievement. The motto is you are worth more than that. The group is celebrating its one year anniversary this month.
Cuttino knew the letters spelled trouble--she was 17 when she had her son. Now Cuttino meets with the 18 girls in SISTA twice a month covering the themes no abuse, no dropouts, no babies, no drugs. A nurse talked to the girls about teen pregnancy during one session. A rape counselor spoke during another. Cuttino also teaches the girls...

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At almost 84 years old you might expect Bob Kruger to be taking it easy. If so you don't know Bob Kruger. He's as active as ever volunteering his eyes and voice to people who are sight impaired. Bob has been a volunteer with the Triangle Radio Reading Service for 21 years. He started volunteering the same year he retired as a meat cutter.
Each Wednesday he reads news from papers like the News and Observer and the Durham Herald Sun for a couple of hours. The part listeners like most though is when he stays on the air an extra half hour to read the food ads. "What he does is really a good service because I like to know when Food Lion or whoever has whole sirloin tips for less than two dollars a pound cause it's a lot easier to swallow that steak at that price." says blind listener Allen Radford of Raleigh.
The Triangle Radio Reading Service serves about 15-thousand people in the triangle. I believe I was put on this earth and I have lived as long as I have because...

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44 year old Charles Ray III is an ordinary restaurant cook who probably knows as much as anyone about diabetes. He was diagnosed with it at age 17. He didn't know much them but had to learn quickly. One thing he learned was how expensive supplies are. That led Ray to start an association to help people pay for supplies. The eight year old Charles Ray the third assosciation has helped people all over the country who can't afford supplies. Ray says an insulin pump can run six grand. Ray's closets and garage are full of supplies. The need is so great he has a waiting list of two to three months. Ray keeps the association going through donations and with an annual golf tournament. Visit his website (www.charlesray.g12.com) to see how you can help or to get help.

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