Don't Give Up
- SurvivorNetTV’s film Mile 19 and feature-length documentary The Great Alone tell the story of two separate men who didn’t let obstacles get in the way of them achieving goals.
- Mile 19 tells the story of Vietnam veteran, and current mailman, Johnnie Jameson who found solace in running the Los Angeles marathon in order to heal from past trauma.
- The Great Alone documents the life of cancer survivor and dog sledding champion Lance Mackey, who was told he would never compete again after being diagnosed with throat cancer. He went on to win 4 Iditarod races.
Even when the finish line seems far away, it’s important to never give up on yourself. Goals can be achieved as long as we put our mind to it, and on SurvivorNetTV we showcase two inspiring figures who are living proof of it.
SurvivorNetTV Presents: Mile 19
SurvivorNetTV’s film Mile 19 follows Vietnam veteran, and current mailman, Johnnie Jameson, who moved to Los Angeles with the goal to heal from past trauma he was holding onto. He started searching for an outlet, and found solace in an unexpected way — running. In 1986, he decided to lace up his running shoes and participate in his first ever Los Angeles Marathon, in which he ran backwards and ended up in last place. However, when he saw the certificate congratulating him on finishing the marathon, it inspired him to keep going and continue charming the crowd with his humorous antics.
Related: SurvivorNetTV Presents: Resilient — Learning to Overcome
“When you get to that 19th mile mark and know you got seven miles, and you think about that, man that’s gonna haunt you; that’s gonna tear you down,” Johnnie says. “But you got to put that aside and just go. You gotta grind it out because life aint nothing but a grind. If you’re breathin’, get up and go do it.”
Johnnie doesn’t run for the competition or physique. Instead, he uses it as a way to escape reality and help heal from past pain. Plus, nothing is more rewarding than eventually reaching that finish line.
Mile 19 — a veteran’s race to heal
SurvivorNetTV Presents: The Great Alone
Feature length documentary, The Great Alone, tells the epic story of cancer survivor and champion dog racer Lance Mackey. At just 8 years old, Mackey saw his father win Alaska’s legendary Iditarod dogsled race, known to many as the toughest race in the world. He vowed to follow in his footsteps. But when Mackey was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2001, he was told he’d never race again.
Related: SurvivorNetTV Presents: Climbing Blind
However, he never let himself give up and went on to win an incredible 4 Iditarod races. From his sunniest days as a boy by his famous father’s side to cancer’s attempt to unseat him, The Great Alone pulls viewers along every mile of Lance’s emotional journey to become one of the greatest dog sled racers of all time. “I believe I got a second chance at life for a reason,” Mackey said, “this is the reason.”
The Great Alone: Epic Story of Cancer Survivor, Lance Mackey, Winner of 4 Iditarod Races
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Don't Give Up
- SurvivorNetTV’s film Mile 19 and feature-length documentary The Great Alone tell the story of two separate men who didn’t let obstacles get in the way of them achieving goals.
- Mile 19 tells the story of Vietnam veteran, and current mailman, Johnnie Jameson who found solace in running the Los Angeles marathon in order to heal from past trauma.
- The Great Alone documents the life of cancer survivor and dog sledding champion Lance Mackey, who was told he would never compete again after being diagnosed with throat cancer. He went on to win 4 Iditarod races.
Even when the finish line seems far away, it’s important to never give up on yourself. Goals can be achieved as long as we put our mind to it, and on
SurvivorNetTV we showcase two inspiring figures who are living proof of it.
SurvivorNetTV Presents: Mile 19
SurvivorNetTV’s film Mile 19 follows Vietnam veteran, and current mailman, Johnnie Jameson, who moved to Los Angeles with the goal to heal from past trauma he was holding onto. He started searching for an outlet, and found solace in an unexpected way — running. In 1986, he decided to lace up his running shoes and participate in his first ever Los Angeles Marathon, in which he ran backwards and ended up in last place. However, when he saw the certificate congratulating him on finishing the marathon, it inspired him to keep going and continue charming the crowd with his humorous antics.
Read More
Related: SurvivorNetTV Presents: Resilient — Learning to Overcome
“When you get to that 19th mile mark and know you got seven miles, and you think about that, man that’s gonna haunt you; that’s gonna tear you down,” Johnnie says. “But you got to put that aside and just go. You gotta grind it out because life aint nothing but a grind. If you’re breathin’, get up and go do it.”
Johnnie doesn’t run for the competition or physique. Instead, he uses it as a way to escape reality and help heal from past pain. Plus, nothing is more rewarding than eventually reaching that finish line.
Mile 19 — a veteran’s race to heal
SurvivorNetTV Presents: The Great Alone
Feature length documentary, The Great Alone, tells the epic story of cancer survivor and champion dog racer Lance Mackey. At just 8 years old, Mackey saw his father win Alaska’s legendary Iditarod dogsled race, known to many as the toughest race in the world. He vowed to follow in his footsteps. But when Mackey was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2001, he was told he’d never race again.
Related: SurvivorNetTV Presents: Climbing Blind
However, he never let himself give up and went on to win an incredible 4 Iditarod races. From his sunniest days as a boy by his famous father’s side to cancer’s attempt to unseat him, The Great Alone pulls viewers along every mile of Lance’s emotional journey to become one of the greatest dog sled racers of all time. “I believe I got a second chance at life for a reason,” Mackey said, “this is the reason.”
The Great Alone: Epic Story of Cancer Survivor, Lance Mackey, Winner of 4 Iditarod Races
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
