The Mark White Show

Tonight, I'm sharing two very different conversations about lives shaped by extraordinary events.

Dr. Leigh Wilson, medical director of the NYC Health + Hospitals World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence, will explain why the health effects of September 11th didn’t end 25 years ago. She’ll discuss conditions that may now be surfacing among people who were exposed as children or teenagers and the help available through the WTC Health Program.

I’ll also welcome Northeast Alabama’s Daisha Wilks and Dalton Hamby of Daisha & Dalton! The Jacksonville State graduates turned their love of travel and videography into a journey spanning more than 30 countries, and now they are one of 13 teams competing on Season 39 of CBS’s The Amazing Race.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

On this Make a Difference Minute, City of Athens, Alabama, Mayor Ronnie Marks shares his perspective on Operation We Remember and the 150 Alabama veterans lost to suicide over a 12-month period.

A Vietnam veteran himself, Mayor Marks reminds us that supporting veterans means more than remembering. It means recognizing when someone may be struggling, reaching out and letting them know they don’t have to face it alone.

If you are a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255 for confidential support.

This Make a Difference Minute is brought to you by Bama Estate Planning by Attorney Harlan D. Mitchell, proudly supporting stories and the people who make our communities strong.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

On this Make a Difference Minute, I have Brian Burkhardt, co-founder and executive director of the Oliver Patch Project, as he shares how students across the country can use their creativity to encourage children facing cancer and other serious health challenges through the Great American Patch Off.

Teachers and community groups can participate at GreatAmericanPatchOff.com, with free curriculum, lesson plans, classroom resources and activities available to help students get involved.

This Make a Difference Minute is brought to you by Hydration Lounge, proudly supporting stories and the people who make our communities strong.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

Tonight, I’m joined by Brian Burkhardt, co-founder and executive director of the Oliver Patch Project.

When Brian and Trisha Burkhardt’s 9-year-old son, Oliver, was diagnosed with leukemia, thousands of patches arrived to encourage him. Oliver wore them on a denim jacket that became his “suit of armor.” That outpouring of kindness grew into a nationwide mission serving children facing cancer and other serious illnesses.

Brian will also tell us about the Great American Patch-Off, a free art competition inviting K–12 students to create messages of hope and encouragement. Winning designs will become real embroidered patches for young patients.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™

On this Make a Difference Minute, Limestone County, Ala. - Commission Commissioner Collin Daly shares his thoughts from Operation We Remember, an Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs effort focused on veteran suicide prevention and support.

Collin talks about the importance of physically showing up for veterans who may be struggling, recognizes Limestone County Veterans Service Officer Matthew Bozigian and his family’s commitment to the community, and reminds us that support doesn’t stop at a county line.

This Make a Difference Minute is brought to you by The Butcher - Meat Co., The Butcher's Chuck Wagon, & The Butcher's Smoke and Flames Barbeque Cookoff, proudly supporting stories and the people who make our communities strong.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

(📸: City of Athens, Alabama (Public Relations)

Tonight, I’ll be coming to you from the Limestone County Courthouse in Athens, as I speak with Limestone County Commission Chairman Collin Daly, Athens Mayor and Vietnam veteran Ronnie Marks, and Limestone County Veterans Service Officer Matthew Bozigian about Operation We Remember.

Currently, there are 150 flags placed on the courthouse lawn representing 150 Alabama veterans who died by suicide during a 12-month period. Each flag represents a life, a family and people forever affected by that loss.

We’ll discuss the importance of reaching veterans before they lose hope, the services available through the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and the responsibility we all share to notice when someone is struggling.

If you are a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, dial 988 and press 1.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

On this Make a Difference Minute, I have Hannah Wilson, mother of Charlie Mae. Through Charlie Mae’s First Day, Hannah is continuing her daughter’s legacy by helping children understand that inclusion doesn’t require having all the answers. It can begin with kindness.

To learn more about Hannah, Charlie Mae’s story, and the effort to encourage compassion, inclusion, & acceptance, visit CharlieMaesFirstDay.com.

This Make a Difference Minute is brought to you by Athens Bible School, proudly supporting stories and the people who make our communities strong.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

On this Make a Difference Minute, I have Physician Assistant Jared Minor as he helps us better understand tube feeding and how parents and educators can help children feel accepted and included.

Jared shares how a new collaboration featuring Elmo can help children understand that people receive nutrition in different ways, while offering educators a thoughtful way to begin those conversations in the classroom.

This Make a Difference Minute is brought to you by Bankston Motor Homes, proudly supporting stories and the people who make our communities strong.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

Some children eat with a fork, some use a spoon, & some receive their nutrition through a feeding tube. What matters most is that every child receives the nourishment they need and knows they belong.

On this edition of TMWS, Gerard Minor, PA-C, M.M.S., joins me to discuss tube feeding, common misunderstandings and how parents can help children embrace classmates who may eat, move, learn or communicate differently.

We’ll also discuss “What Is Better Than How,” a new song featuring Elmo from Compleat and Sesame Workshop that celebrates the different ways children receive nutrition.

In our second segment, Hannah Wilson joins me as we revisit Charlie Mae’s First Day, the book inspired by her daughter. Charlie Mae used a wheelchair, communicated without words, lived with epilepsy and received nutrition through a G-tube. Hannah will share how Charlie Mae’s story and legacy continue teaching children and adults about understanding, friendship & inclusion.

This is an important conversation for parents, teachers and anyone who wants every child to feel seen and accepted.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

On this Make a Difference Minute, I have Jen Rubino, founder of Cards for Hospitalized Kids. Jen shares how her own experience undergoing more than 20 surgeries—and one simple card she received during a difficult hospital stay—inspired an effort that now brings people of all ages together to encourage hospitalized children.

This Make a Difference Minute is brought to you by Bama Estate Planning by Attorney Harlan D. Mitchell, proudly supporting stories and the people who make our communities strong.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️