Frank Caliendo is stunned by my impersonation of him impersonating me. He said I sounded just like myself.
If you fall down, don’t make that your story. Make how you got back up your story.
If I was going to personify that statement, I’d nominate Hattiesburg’s Kent Oliver. Oliver was recently diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, which is cancer of plasma cells (a type of white blood cell normally responsible for producing antibodies.). But instead of making that his story, he decided to find a way to serve others. That’s how Laughs 4 Life was born. And last night, Hattiesburg benefited from Kent’s vision.
Comedian and impressionist Frank Caliendo performed a hilarious set at the Saenger Theater to a packed crowd of over 800 laughing folks. Caliendo, famous for his impressions of Morgan Freeman, George W. Bush and John Madden, brought the house down. Pure joy is hearing him impersonate John Madden fawning over Brett Farve with Brett Farve in the room!
Kent’s vision raised over $100,000 for Multiple Myeloma research and the Forrest General Cancer Center. And the Hattiesburg area was treated to an amazing night of comedy.
Here’s the thing, Kent could have sunk into sorrow. He could have used the cancer as an excuse to give up. But instead, he used it as an opportunity to serve. His story isn’t about illness. It’s about joy and laughter. Since last April, Kent and his friends put together a dinner, a comedy show and an after party. They raised thousands of dollars. They educated people about a devastating form of cancer. And they pushed the needle closer to a cure.
It’s not how you fall. It’s how you get back up. And Kent Oliver got back up with a smile.
We all can learn from that.