Welcome to the latest edition of the David Begnaud newsletter! I’m always on the hunt for a good story, so the more word gets out about what we’re doing here, the more stories pour in, a beautiful cycle!
This week, I’m inspired by a man who ran to save lives, a teenager who stopped to save elderly car-crash victims, and the deep richness of the Malawi people.
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Courtesy: Ryan Bjellquist-Ledger
When I heard this story, I had to feature it because it’s the ultimate good story. This guy set out to run more than I could ever imagine simply to raise awareness of the need for AEDs. There’s not a single thing he gains from it, except knowing that other people's lives will be saved.
“Every Second Counts”
When Stephen Greet encountered a woman on the ground with no pulse during his usual run around Central Park, he knew every second mattered.
The former EMT began CPR while park staff scrambled to find an automated external defibrillator or AED (the portable device that can restart a heart in cardiac arrest).
Minutes felt like forever. By the time an ambulance arrived, the woman’s family stood helpless — she had passed. That night, Stephen broke down, feeling a mix of grief and frustration. Why weren’t there AEDs everywhere?
He then recalled something he had learned all those years ago as an EMT: “Someone has to take action. It might as well be you.”
Stephen soon connected with The Aliver Foundation, a volunteer-run nonprofit that installs AEDs in public spaces, and decided he was going to start raising the money himself to support its cause…
…by doing something as audacious as it was heartfelt.
On October 11th, Stephen set out to run 122 miles around Central Park — 20 full loops. The goal was to break the single-day running record at the park (116 miles or 19 loops) to raise awareness and funds for more AEDs.
I hope they had an AED just for him!
He started at 6:05am, wearing his lucky pickle hat and a quiet sense of purpose as he headed down the path.
Courtesy: Ryan Bjellquist-Ledger
Courtesy: Ryan Bjellquist-Ledger
Throughout the rainy day, dozens of runners joined him, turning what had always been a solitary activity for Stephen into a moving show of community.
Meanwhile, strangers stopped at a table set up with a QR code to learn more. Educated and inspired, they donated over $10,000 — enough for four AEDs in Central Park.
After 92 miles, Stephen’s left quadriceps seized, forcing him to stop at 7:55pm. Stephen told me that “there is certainly disappointment in coming up short, but I’ve been overwhelmed by all the support and donations.”
And I believe, whether he broke the record or not, Stephen already achieved what mattered most — he ran his heart out to keep others’ hearts beating.
For Stephen, this run wasn’t about endurance. It was about empathy. A reminder that ordinary people can make extraordinary change simply by stepping up.
As a former CPR and AED trainer, I couldn’t believe in Stephen’s mission more. If I had my druthers, there would be an AED in every home just like a fire extinguisher.
Or as Stephen puts it: “Every second without an AED is costing a life.”
If this story moves you, consider becoming certified in CPR and using AEDs. And join me in helping Stephen and The Aliver Foundation place AEDs in more public spaces. You can donate here.
A special thank-you to Jill Pall of The Aliver Foundation for sharing this story with us. Do you have a story that lifts hearts and brings people together? We’d love to hear it. Click the link below to share yours.
Your Feedback…
You all shared such love for last week’s newsletter.
“David, I live in Lafayette, your home town. Lafayette, as you know, is the happiest city in the USA! We are so proud of you and your accomplishments! ❤️”
“Mr. Begnaud, I have followed your stories for the past couple of years. I don’t think I’ve made it through to the end without breaking down every time. You are the perfect person to present these to a wider audience. Viewing your stories has challenged me to be a better human being. Kindness is a verb, not a noun. I’m a single, gay, retired male born and living in West Virginia. God bless you.”
Send us your feedback for a chance to be featured. All you have to do is reply to this email or click the button below. We can’t wait to hear from you!
My Favorite Stories Of The Week
☀️ I want to tell you about the trip of a lifetime to Malawi. I was invited by my friends at Canva to witness an insane act of kindness — through GiveDirectly, the company donated $100 million to lift up citizens facing extreme poverty. I went in thinking that the Malawians were missing something in their lives because of their hardship, but I discovered that they are already rich in what truly matters: joy and community.
Courtesy: David Begnaud
Courtesy: Instagram
☀️ People couldn’t stop tagging me on social media about 19-year-old Juan Mendoza, who jumped into action to help rescue an elderly couple escape their smoking vehicle after a severe car accident in the Rio Grande Valley. May we all aspire to such heroism.
Celebrating “Aggressive Kindness”
Click image to watch
Gayle Noble was a delightfully quirky woman who was known less for the 25 patents she held (yes, 25!) and more for her endless acts of “aggressive kindness.” When Gayle passed just shy of 79 years old, her daughter decided to do something she knew her mother would love… throwing her a celebration instead of a funeral. And celebrate they did. The hall in Oceanside overflowed with people — friends, neighbors, even strangers — and more than a thousand others joined on Zoom. A testament to a life that didn’t just invent things, but inspired them.
Next Monday: a man who was shot and left for dead in a carjacking became the perpetrator’s unexpected advocate in prison… and, soon after, became friends.
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On A Personal Note…
Little makes my heart soar more than my dog, Paddington. I was never a pet person growing up, especially since my mom was allergic to dog and cat dander. When Jeremy and I started going out, I told him we were never getting a pet… and then we got Paddington, and it changed my life.
I posted a photo of Paddington on Facebook and asked people to share their pet stories... and WOW!
Made with love by David Begnaud and the team.
Stories that set your soul on fire.
