Two little boys...and two good men

"Character is what you are in the dark."

This morning with my tea and cereal, I read the following story to the end (which will make you cry for sure if you do too). Having been a working musician for many years, I saw a LOT of very self-centered (and self-indulgent) people in the music business (myself included). . .but Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine is not one of them!

Check out the picture of the little boy in the hospital...and then on stage playing guitar with his mentor!

Teen Impact program offers young cancer patients support with 'normal' activities

It was an instant bond. Two "guitar geeks" united in an unlikely friendship.

One was a rock star playing to sold-out venues.

The other was an 8-year-old boy playing in his hospital room as he battled life-threatening cancer.

They were brought together by the Teen Impact program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, a psychosocial support group provided for patients with cancer or blood diseases.

Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine, along with the rest of the band, began working with the program about six years ago, performing at various functions and holding benefit concerts to help raise funds for the program.

After visiting the hospital a few times, Valentine realized there was more he could do to help so he began giving regular guitar lessons to kids in the program.

Checking out the online news just now, I happened to see another wonderful story at GatewayPundit about another generous man who gave of himself to help another little boy with cancer--there is good in the world!

12 Year-Old Cancer Victim Cody Green Becomes An Honorary Marine

These are the core values that define a U.S. Marine. Along with their solemn code of Semper Fidelis, it is what makes elite warriors of the few and the proud and distinguishes them as individuals bonded together by loyalty and enduring greatness.

Cody Green, a young 12 year old boy in Indiana battling leukemia, shared these characteristics and the local Marine Corps recognized them. With the “strength and honor and courage” he showed through his long struggle to be rid of his disease they decided to make the brave, young admirer of the U.S. Marines an honorary Marine, himself.