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Nov 18, 2009 6:55 pm US/Eastern
KD Country: Strongman Jon Pritikin
BELLEVUE (KDKA) ―
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Dave Crawley takes a look at inspiration strongman Jon Pritikin's inspirational presentations.
KDKA
Who needs phone books any more? A loud and enthusiastic grade school audience at Bellevue Elementary School shrieks with encouragement, as the strongman on the stage rips a phone book in half. Yellow pages and all.
With a man-size grunt of triumph, Jon Pritikin gives new meaning the phrase "Let Your Fingers do the Walking."
How strong is he?
Strong enough to earn a page in the Guinness Book of Records. However, there's more to his act than prodigious feats of strength. He tells a powerful story of a little boy once deemed un-teachable.
"Everybody at school made fun of that boy," he said. "They sang songs about him. They told stories about him, and they made that boy eat lunch by himself every day."
"He told us not to bully anybody because it's rude," a boy in the audience said.
"He said never give up," a little girl said.
The strongman continues his story.
"See, that little boy I told you about who became a young man, he went on with his life. And today that young man is me."
His local stops, sponsored by Allegheny County Pre-trial Services, make kids aware of the pain caused by bullying.
Pritikin's powerful performance at Bellevue Elementary is one of about 400 shows he'll put on every year - from his home state of California, to Europe, to the Middle East. It's a message that resonates in every language.
"We're going to be heroes to one another," he concludes, his voice choked with emotion. "We're going to watch out for one another."
He hopes to save kids of today from the tears cried by the little boy of long ago. "It's a privilege to be able to do this," he said. "It's an honor."
He delivers a strong message, in more ways than one.
For more information about Jon Pritikin and other inspirational speakers that are presented by the National Character Education Foundation, you can visit their
Website Here.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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