Marsha had trained for five months to run the New York City Marathon, but it was canceled due to Hurricane Sandy. She decided to run the London Marathon route on her own, using her family and community to support her.
Marsha began live-tweeting her progress, which caught the attention of people on social media. They shared her story, calling it the 'Marsha-thon,' and even a local photographer came to document her journey.
During a grueling half marathon plank exercise, Yvonne was struggling to continue. Her swim buddy Jim and another teammate Jonathan noticed and physically supported her by lifting her up. They stayed with her until she regained her strength and could continue on her own.
IN-Q wanted to create a beautiful moment by asking his girlfriend to marry him in a poetic way. He surprised her by taking her to a field, reading a love poem he had written, and then getting down on one knee to propose.
When Dan's cabin was threatened by a wildfire, a firefighter and a contractor managed to save his home by staying as long as possible and cutting a fence to protect it. The contractor later read a note left by the firefighters, expressing their efforts and the minor damage they caused.
When Yana's parents decided to leave Trafalgar, their landlord returned all the rent they had paid over the year, giving them a leg up to start anew in Melbourne. This act of kindness led to a decades-long friendship between the families.
After Gabra's breakup, her brother noticed a list of kitchen items she wished she had. He later returned with all the items on her list, wrapped beautifully, to support her and help her rebuild her home and life.
When June froze on stage during her performance, the MCs and the other performers rushed to her aid. They sang along with her, turning a moment of vulnerability into a powerful community support event.
Susan was in a serious car accident and received an outpouring of support from the Austin blues community. People donated blood, sent cards and photos, and even James Cotton, a famous blues musician, visited her in the hospital to play harmonica for her.
Erin's mentor, Jonathan Fields, called a core group of women who were part of Erin's life to let them know that the day the podcast episode about her husband's illness and passing was to be released would be a hard day for her. These friends checked in to provide support.
"The Hug" is a heartwarming and poignant collection of stories celebrating the profound impact that acts of kindness, generosity and human connection can have on our lives - especially during the most difficult of times.
From a community rallying around a frozen talent show performer to strangers saving a family's home from wildfires, these powerful tales will rekindle your faith in the goodness of people and remind you of the beauty that can emerge even from life's darkest moments. An uplifting and deeply moving "hug" for the soul.
You can find our storytellers at:
Marsha Shandur: Instagram) | Website)
Yvonne Ator: Website)
Dan Stones: Wildfire note on Twitter)
Jana Langford: Instagram) | Website)
Gabra Zackman: Instagram)
Rick Charlie: Facebook)
Susan Piver: Instagram)
Erin Moon: Instagram) | Website)
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