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UQ tests vaccine response in ‘moonshot’ challenge

Queensland researchers are attempting to create a vaccine in just 150 days to prove how far their response capabilities to a viral pandemic have come since COVID-19. The clock started on 10 February  for The University of Queensland’s Vaccine Rapid Response Team, which has been tasked with producing the first vaccine for the little-known but […]

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UQ tests vaccine response in 'moonshot' challenge

Queensland researchers are attempting to create a vaccine in just 150 days to prove how far their response capabilities to a viral pandemic have come since COVID-19.

The clock started on 10 February  for The University of Queensland’s Vaccine Rapid Response Team, which has been tasked with producing the first vaccine for the little-known but potentially fatal Bolivian Chapare virus.

Team leader Professor Keith Chappell said the ‘pressure test’ at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) is backed by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

“Our goal is to get as close as possible to achieving CEPI’s aspirational ‘100 Days Mission’ to create a vaccine from scratch in just over three months when faced with a new pandemic threat,” Professor Chappell said.

“It took a little less than a year for the first safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to be developed and approved for use,” Professor Chappell said.

“That’s an astonishing timeframe to develop a medical defence system, but it still wasn’t quick enough to prevent COVID-19 from surging across the world,” Professor Chappell said.

“While we might not know when or where the next viral threat will emerge, we can improve how quickly we respond and hopefully save more lives.”

Professor Chappell’s team was given their target virus for the pressure test in March, in a deliberate challenge from CEPI designed to mimic the sudden emergence of a viral threat.

The UQ Rapid Response Vaccine Team will now produce 26 vaccine candidates using its re-engineered molecular clamp technology, which successfully completed a proof-of-concept phase I clinical trial last year.

A clinical grade batch of the most promising candidate will be produced, and the process fully documented and reviewed for CEPI to keep on hand for potential future use.

The Chapare virus is currently only known to occur in Bolivia and causes a severe haemorrhagic fever.

There have been five documented outbreaks since the disease emerged in 2003, with a laboratory-confirmed case reported in January this year.

CEPI project leader Dr Nicole Bézay said the team’s work could make it much quicker to produce a vaccine should there be a significant outbreak of the Chapare virus, but the main focus is on testing and improving the vaccine development process for the re-engineered clamp technology.

“Our partnership with the UQ team is about safeguarding the world from the threat of unknown viruses with pandemic potential,” Dr Bézay said.

Professor Chappell acknowledged that building a working vaccine for Chapare within CEPI’s 100-day target was a ‘moonshot’, but completing the task in 150 days would represent an ‘astonishing advance’ in his team’s capabilities.

“This pressure test is ultimately designed to show us where the pain points are in moving so quickly, to show us what works, and what doesn’t work when making a new vaccine,” he said.

“We want to prove that the combination of our Clamp2 technology and the people we have in the team is able to generate a safe and effective vaccine within a highly accelerated timeline.”

Media contact

UQ Communications
communications@uq.edu.au
+61 429 056 139

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Elite athletes' secret hydration breakthrough

Elite training facilities worldwide have quietly adopted these sophisticated protocols, which involve strategic fluid manipulation that extends far beyond traditional water consumption. The results speak for themselves: measurable improvements in endurance, enhanced temperature regulation and superior cardiovascular efficiency during competition. This scientific approach to hydration optimization has emerged from rigorous research conducted in sports medicine […]

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Elite athletes' secret hydration breakthrough

Elite training facilities worldwide have quietly adopted these sophisticated protocols, which involve strategic fluid manipulation that extends far beyond traditional water consumption. The results speak for themselves: measurable improvements in endurance, enhanced temperature regulation and superior cardiovascular efficiency during competition.

This scientific approach to hydration optimization has emerged from rigorous research conducted in sports medicine laboratories, where investigators have uncovered how precisely timed fluid intake can create distinct physiological advantages. The findings challenge decades of accepted hydration practices and offer athletes a proven pathway to unlock previously untapped performance potential.

Revolutionary fluid science transforms performance

Modern research has revealed startling insights about the human body’s response to calculated fluid loading strategies. When executed with precision, these advanced protocols can increase blood plasma volume by approximately 1.5 percent of total body weight, creating measurable advantages that translate directly into competitive success.

The enhanced fluid state delivers cascading benefits throughout multiple body systems. Athletes experience dramatically reduced cardiovascular strain during high-intensity efforts, as expanded blood volume enables more efficient oxygen delivery to working muscles. This physiological enhancement becomes particularly pronounced during extended competitions where maintaining peak output over time determines victory or defeat.

Temperature regulation represents another crucial advantage of strategic hyperhydration. The expanded fluid reserves help athletes maintain lower core temperatures during exertion, preventing the performance-crushing effects of overheating that plague competitors using traditional hydration methods. Enhanced sweat production capabilities create a superior natural cooling system that becomes increasingly valuable as exercise intensity and duration increase.

Athletes implementing these protocols consistently demonstrate superior cognitive function during extended efforts. Mental sharpness remains intact as physical fatigue accumulates, allowing for better tactical decisions and maintained reaction times when competitions reach critical moments.

Precision timing unlocks maximum benefits

The effectiveness of advanced hydration protocols depends entirely on strategic timing across multiple phases of preparation and performance. Sports scientists have mapped five distinct windows that form the backbone of successful implementation, each requiring specific approaches tailored to the body’s evolving needs.

Strategic pre-loading phase

The process begins four hours before intense activity, when athletes consume calculated fluid and electrolyte combinations. Research establishes optimal intake targets of 5 to 7 milliliters per kilogram of body weight during this crucial window, providing sufficient time for absorption and distribution throughout the system.

Maintenance and fine-tuning

Two hours before exercise, focus shifts to preserving elevated hydration while avoiding fluid accumulation that could impair performance. This delicate balance requires athletes to consume smaller volumes at regular intervals, maintaining optimal status without creating discomfort or digestive issues.

Competition readiness

The immediate pre-exercise period involves final adjustments based on individual tolerance and environmental conditions. During activity, replacement strategies must account for ongoing losses while avoiding the serious risks associated with excessive fluid intake.

Recovery optimization

Post-exercise hydration serves dual purposes: restoring fluid balance and preparing the body for subsequent training sessions. This recovery window presents opportunities to support natural repair processes while maintaining the enhanced hydration state for future performance demands.

Electrolyte mastery drives success

Successful hyperhydration transcends simple water consumption to encompass sophisticated electrolyte management. Sodium functions as the primary regulator of fluid distribution, making its precise calibration absolutely essential for protocol effectiveness and athlete safety.

Scientific investigations have established optimal sodium concentrations between 2,990 and 3,772 milligrams per liter of fluid for maintaining proper cellular function. This specific range prevents dangerous fluid shifts that could compromise both performance outcomes and athlete wellbeing.

Elite athletes achieve these targets through strategic nutritional choices rather than relying exclusively on supplements. Consuming sodium-rich broths, soups and specially formulated foods provides steady absorption rates while delivering additional nutrients that support comprehensive performance enhancement.

Personalized protocols maximize individual potential

The most successful hyperhydration strategies account for significant individual variations in physiological response to fluid loading. Body composition influences absorption rates and distribution patterns, while environmental factors such as temperature and humidity dramatically affect ongoing hydration requirements.

Female athletes often require modified approaches due to hormonal fluctuations that impact fluid retention characteristics. Training experience levels also influence adaptation capabilities, suggesting that athletes new to hyperhydration should implement protocols gradually to allow proper physiological adjustment.

Environmental conditions play particularly crucial roles in protocol design. Hot, humid environments accelerate fluid losses through increased sweating, demanding more aggressive replacement strategies. Cooler conditions may permit conservative approaches while maintaining optimal hydration status throughout competition.

Advanced monitoring ensures safety and effectiveness

Successful hyperhydration implementation requires sophisticated monitoring systems to ensure both safety and optimal results. Athletes must track multiple physiological indicators to assess their body’s response and make necessary real-time adjustments.

Regular weight measurements provide objective feedback about fluid retention, while urine color analysis offers immediate visual assessment of hydration status. Heart rate responses during exercise indicate whether protocols are delivering expected cardiovascular benefits, while sweat rate calculations inform replacement needs during activity.

Building championship-level practices

Long-term success demands gradual implementation and consistent monitoring. Athletes should increase fluid intake progressively, allowing physiological adaptation without experiencing performance decrements or safety concerns.

Integration with comprehensive nutritional strategies maximizes effectiveness. Carbohydrate timing affects fluid retention capabilities, while protein consumption influences cellular hydration status. Strategic meal planning ensures all elements work synergistically to support peak performance outcomes.

As sports science advances, hyperhydration stands as a proven method for athletes seeking evidence-based performance improvements. When implemented thoughtfully and monitored carefully, these protocols provide meaningful competitive advantages that help elite performers reach their absolute potential.

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(BPRW) The Ad Council, Huntsman Mental Health Foundation and Amazon Announce “The …

(BPRW) The Ad Council, Huntsman Mental Health Foundation and Amazon Announce “The Mind Set” to Support Mental Health Elite Athletes Skylar Diggins, Laurie Hernandez and Chaunté Lowe Appear in National “Love, Your Mind” PSAs to Remind Audiences Why the Mind is the Real MVP (Black PR Wire) New York – The Ad Council, Huntsman Mental Health […]

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(BPRW) The Ad Council, Huntsman Mental Health Foundation and Amazon Announce “The Mind Set” to Support Mental Health

Elite Athletes Skylar Diggins, Laurie Hernandez and Chaunté Lowe Appear in National “Love, Your Mind” PSAs to Remind Audiences Why the Mind is the Real MVP

(Black PR Wire) New York – The Ad Council, Huntsman Mental Health Foundation and Amazon Ads have collaborated to launch “The Mind Set,” an interactive experience designed to show audiences how taking care of their mental health can help them reach their goals. As part of the “Love, Your Mind” campaign, “The Mind Set” leverages the stories of three inspiring athletes – Skylar Diggins, Laurie Hernandez and Chaunté Lowe – in national public service advertisements (PSAs) and a new online experience, YourMindIsTheMVP.com.

“The Mind Set” website showcases each athlete’s journey with mental health and allows users to explore “Love, Your Mind” mental health resources like breathing exercises, gratitude journaling, and meditation. Through the campaign activation, users can also engage with mental health resources by saying “Alexa, make my mind the MVP,” to their Echo device or the Alexa app. Users can also explore bespoke Amazon Music playlists inspired by the athletes’ qualities of determination, bravery and resilience.

The new PSAs, directed by Babak Khoshnoud, director at Bryght Young Things, and developed pro bono by the Amazon Ads Brand Innovation Lab, will appear in donated media across Amazon throughout 2025, including Prime Video, in the Amazon store, and on the Fire TV landing page.

Throughout the experience, the three athletes vulnerably share how taking care of their minds has contributed to their successes. Each athlete has selected a personal object that represents their inspiring journey with mental health:

● Skylar Diggins: Six-Time WNBA All-Star features her Childhood Basketball as a symbol of her determination.
● Laurie Hernandez: U.S. gymnastics gold medalist features her Comeback Leotard as a symbol of her bravery.
● Chaunté Lowe: U.S. high jump record holder features her Survivor Bell as a symbol of her resilience.

To encourage fans to take care of their minds, users who interact with three resources on the site can enter into a giveaway for a chance to win one of the personal objects of their choice. The items have been generously donated by each athlete and professionally authenticated. The giveaway is open now through July 7.

“Mental health is a critical component of overall wellness that affects millions of Americans daily,” said Alan Moss, vice president of global advertising sales, Amazon Ads. “By leveraging the Amazon universe—from Alexa to Prime Video to Amazon Music—we’ve created an immersive experience that doesn’t just raise awareness but provides actionable resources through the voices of these inspiring athletes. This campaign demonstrates how technology can be a positive force in addressing the mental health challenges so many face today.”

“These iconic athletes are demonstrating their true passion for mental health awareness by generously sharing their moving stories with the world,” said Huntsman Mental Health Foundation President, Miranda Barnard. “These women have achieved such significant feats of athletic greatness in their respective sports, and hearing them talk about their challenges and coping strategies truly helps create a more open dialogue around mental health.”

“We are grateful to Amazon for activating its extraordinary range of touchpoints in support of mental health awareness,” said DJ Perera, chief media officer, the Ad Council. “Our audiences look to athletes for inspiration, and through this collaboration, we can show how taking care of our minds helps us all perform at the top of our game, both physically and mentally.”

“The Mind Set” is part of the national “Love, Your Mind” campaign, which has driven over 1.6 million visits to LoveYourMindToday.org for free mental health resources since October 2023. For more information about the “Love, Your Mind” campaign, follow “Love, Your Mind” on InstagramFacebookX and TikTok.

Giveaway rules: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open only to legal residents of the 50 US/DC, 18 years of age and older who have or create an Amazon.com account. Creating an account is free. Void where prohibited by law. Sweepstakes ends at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on 7/7/25. Subject to Official Rules, including how to enter, prize details, odds, and restrictions, see https://seerules.com/mindset. Sponsor: Amazon.com Services LLC, 2021 7th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121.

About the Ad Council
The Ad Council convenes creative storytellers to educate, unite and uplift audiences by opening hearts, inspiring action and accelerating change. For more than 80 years, the nonprofit organization and its partners in advertising, media, marketing and tech have been behind some of the country’s most iconic social impact campaigns – Smokey Bear, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk, Tear the Paper Ceiling and many more.

In November 2022, the Ad Council announced a Mental Health Initiative, uniting brands, marketers, media companies and nonprofits to address the mental health crisis throughout the U.S. at scale. With a founding donation from Huntsman Mental Health Institute, the multi-year initiative aims to change social norms and create a society that is more open, accepting and proactive when it comes to mental health.

To learn more or get involved, visit AdCouncil.org, join the Ad Council’s communities on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X, and view campaign creative on YouTube.

About Huntsman Mental Health Foundation
Huntsman Mental Health Foundation supports Huntsman Mental Health Institute and its mission to transform mental health care through community, research, clinical, and education initiatives. Huntsman Mental Health Foundation is working toward a world where mental wellness is accessible to all and where funding is not an obstacle on the path to well-being by leveraging the power of philanthropic support to break down the barriers that hinder mental wellness, both regionally and nationally. Learn more at: hmhf.org and join the conversation on InstagramFacebookX, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Ben Dorf
The Ad Council
bdorf@adcouncil.org

The information contained in this Press Release represents the views and opinions of the author(s) and/or original creator of this Press Release and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Black PR Wire. The mere appearance of this Press Release on the website does not constitute an endorsement by Black PR Wire or its affiliates of this Press Release.
This Press Release has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. The author(s) and/or represented companies are solely responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the content of this Press Release. Black PR Wire does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of this Press Release. Black PR Wire does not warrant the performance, effectiveness or applicability of any sites or products mentioned, listed or linked to in this Press Release.

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Archdeacon

When veteran local photographer Horace Dozier Sr. came to the University of Dayton basketball offices to shoot a picture of Flyers’ head coach Anthony Grant and his wife Chris for the Dayton Skyscrapers project, he brought along his own wife, Juanita. “She and Chris hit if off right away,” Dozier said quietly If the women’s […]

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Archdeacon

When veteran local photographer Horace Dozier Sr. came to the University of Dayton basketball offices to shoot a picture of Flyers’ head coach Anthony Grant and his wife Chris for the Dayton Skyscrapers project, he brought along his own wife, Juanita.

“She and Chris hit if off right away,” Dozier said quietly

If the women’s personalities meshed, so too did their sense of familial love…and painful loss.

Since the Dayton Skyscrapers venture was launched in 2007 by Bing Davis, the internationally acclaimed artist, longtime educator and local treasure, none of the 140 honorees and the regional artists who portrayed them have connected more than did the Grants with Dozier and his wife.

You don’t realize it when you’re looking at the loving photo of the Grants – with their late daughter Jayda smiling at them from behind – but in some ways you are also looking at the Doziers.

On May 30, 2022, Jayda Grant, who was just 20, took her own life.

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Just 23 days earlier, Lamont Dozier, who was 51 and the oldest son of the Dozier’s, did the same thing.

The losses devasted both families.

Eventually it drew them together.

“They had heard our story and were willing to share theirs,” Grant said. “He and his wife talked about when they first approached this idea, they still were healing. We were able to connect with them on that. It was personal, but at the same time it was healing for them and us. I really appreciated that.”

Because of the elevated platform he has around here as the Dayton Flyers’ head coach and the similar standing he has nationally because he’s one of the college game’s most respected coaches, Grant had found a way he and Chris and their three sons could both honor Jayda, who they called Jay, and try to prevent other young people and their families from going through something similar.

With Chris spearheading the start of the Jay’s Light Foundation, a mental health and suicide prevention initiative, Anthony — backed by Flyers’ athletics director Neil Sullivan, UD president Dr. Eric Spina and eventually the Flyer Faithful — was instrumental in drawing attention to and raising funds for young people battling mental distress and bearing the stigma that often comes with it.

For the past two Octobers, UD has played a charity basketball exhibition — the first year against Ohio State; last season against Xavier — to add a national spotlight to the cause.

That’s been preceded each year by a Town Hall presentation at UD Arena with a keynote speaker, a panel discussion including the Grants and a mental health fair featuring several organizations that help people in need.

“I’ve wanted to do anything I could do to help them get the word out,” Dozier said. “Anthony has the notoriety to help make it happen, and we all have the need.”

The 2025 Dayton Skyscrapers exhibit — which features 19 honorees presented in a various mediums by 11 local artists — opened to the public eight days ago at the University of Dayton’s Roger Glass Center for the Arts. It will stay open until June 30.

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But, as is the case each year, that ending is just the beginning for the Skyscraper images.

At the directive of Davis — who during his career taught at Colonel White High School and DePauw, Miami and Central State universities — a partnership was struck in 2010 with the Dayton Public Schools who began to permanently display the Skyscraper images in the 27 different schools it supervises.

“I always intended them to be more than just decoration though,” Davis said. “I wanted them to be a tool for learning.”

The project not only pays tribute to African American men and women whose achievements have made them stand tall in the region and often beyond, but it celebrates the local black artists who presented their visual images and stories.

“The Dayton Public Schools system is the first in the nation to have an extensive art collection by African American visual artists displayed in all its schools as an integral part of the learning experience,” Davis said.

The program is so unique, so respected, that over the years Davis has travelled the country — and made presentations in Russia and China, too — detailing the Skyscrapers project so others could create similar programs.

Celebrated as it is, the program’s funding is in jeopardy because of the Trump Administration’s cuts to public education programs.

Another blow to the Grant’s effort is coming from the NCAA, which this year is allowing college basketball programs to earn money from preseason exhibitions against outside competition, rather than just play for charitable causes.

“With the climate we’re in now, most people are going to play games this year to make money and bolster their NIL deals,” Grant said. “That will make it much harder to get the marque type game we’ve had the first two years.

“We’re still planning on having a game, but right now we don’t know just what it will look like. And we still plan to have the Town Hall. I feel that’s been helpful and well-received.”

Certainly, the need is still there.

According to groups such as the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, which Chris Grant is involved in:

  •  Suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10 to 14 and  20 to 34
  • Each day in the U.S. there are more than 3,700 suicide attempts by young people grades 9-12. If the percentages were additionally applied to grades 7 and 8, the numbers would be higher
  • More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza and chronic lung disease combined.

And all that goes against the government’s current defunding of mental health programs for children.

The Trump Administration recently announced a $1 billion cut to school-based mental health services grants which were created under the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) in response to the Uvalde, Texas school shooting.

This withering blow comes at the same time Congressional leaders are trying to slash funding for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which together insures 37 million children in the U.S.

Against that bleak picture, the sanguine “Beat the Stigma” image, as Dozier entitled the photo of the Grants, takes on more purpose for young people and their families needing help when it comes to mental wellness.

Similar local roots

Dozier and Davis grew up in the same small, black neighborhood in Dayton’s predominately white, Appalachian-rooted inner East End.

“We came from the same neighborhood,” Davis said. “I grew up on Diamond Avenue and he grew up on Irwin. I used to pass their house on the way to school.”

While Dozier — who at 74 is 13 years younger than Davis — said he didn’t know Davis when he was growing up, he’d certainly heard of him.

“He was a legend in our neighborhood.”

Davis was a standout basketball and track athlete — both at Wilbur Wright High and DePauw University — and soon after was making a name for himself as an artist.

Dozier ended up at Roosevelt High and after graduating, he and Juanita, his high school sweetheart, married and had two children.

Horace Jr., the youngest, went on to an Air Force career and has shown the same artistic nature as his dad.

“Lamont wanted to be an engineer, but he began suffering symptoms and had to go under medical care,” Horace Sr. said. “He had a rough go of it.”

Right after Lamont’s death, Jayda Grant died as well.

Her passing not only rocked the UD campus — where she’d been on the track team after standout performances both at Chaminade Julienne High and, before that, at an Oklahoma City high school when her dad was an assistant coach with the NBA’s Thunder — but it shook the city of Dayton and the college basketball world.

Some 16 months after Jay’s death, the Grants met with me at their home south of the UD campus. It was the first time the couple spoke together publicly about their loss.

“We’re going through something that is the worst thing as a parent that you ever could go through,” Grant said then. “When something like this happens, your life is broken. So, while you find a way to pick up the broken pieces and glue them back together, the cracks are always going to be there.

“You can choose to deal with it in silence, by yourself, and not do anything and I’m not saying that’s wrong. Everybody grieves differently.”

He said they hoped they could stay strong enough to use his platform and try to help others in need:

“We want to honor our daughter and at the same time try to help break the stigma in terms of the way people view mental health and mental illness and suicide ideation (suicidal thoughts).

“And we want to allow people who are doing great work in the space to speak. We want to give people resources.

“We want to give them hope so you have a person saying, ‘Yesterday, I didn’t think I could come out of this, but now I think I can survive.’”

The real message

Grant had the Doziers meet him and Chris in his UD office, where several basketball remembrances are displayed.

A large mural of a sold-out UD Arena graces one wall. Near it is a big silver trophy and a net from the 29-2 season when the Flyers were unbeaten in the Atlantic 10. There’s a collection of basketballs designating milestone victories in Grant’s 17 years as a college head coach.

Dozier had the couple pose on the couch and made sure no hoops refences got in the photo. He didn’t want the real message to be lost.

To emphasize the Grants and the image of Jayda behind them, he kept both in color and made everything else in the picture black and white. That gave the photo a 3D effect.

“I thought the picture was well done,” Chris said. “It’s not so somber. It shows we’re doing well and getting through this, but is also keeps in mind that our daughter, who’s looking over our shoulders, is not with us.”

Dozier said some people have told him they see love between the Grants…and strength.

he 2025 Dayton Skyscrapers exhibit was unveiled at a gala reception at the Glass last Saturday evening.

“It was our first time at a Skyscrapers event,” Grant said. “Just hearing some of the work the other people had done in the community was pretty amazing.”

Chris agreed, saying, “It was a real honor to be a part of something like this. But after hearing all the great work the other recipients were doing, we were like ‘Wow, do we even belong here?’”

While the Grants certainly did belong — and their ongoing Jay’s Light efforts will continue to bolster their impact in the future — there’s no denying the other recipients were towering Skyscrapers.

A couple of other honorees also had sports ties, though like with the Grants, that’s not why they were recognized.

Ron Todd — the former Belmont High and Bowling Green football player who then became an agent representing football and baseball players who often were overlooked — was honored by artist Morris Howard for his past work as the minority affairs liaison for Governor Mike DeWine and his current position as the Chief of Social Impact and Opportunity for the Ohio Department of Development.

And Irving Moses, the father of legendary Dayton Olympian Edwin Moses, was saluted by artist James Pate not only for his work as a longtime DPS educator, but also for being in the first class of the Tuskegee Airmen and serving in World War II.

“This is the best show we’ve ever had,” said Davis.

“I think I know most of the people, but every year I learn something I didn’t know about some of them,” Davis said. “I didn’t know Ron Todd was a former athlete at all.

“And though I knew Mr. Moses — he, along with (coach) Jack Hart and (Olympian) Dave) Albritton were male educators and our heroes – I didn’t realize he was a Tuskegee Airman.”

Thanks to Dozier, who now has done images for six Skyscraper exhibits, Davis also got a better appreciation of the Grants whom he’d just known from afar.

In turn, what especially impressed Grant was what happens to the exhibit after it is removed from galleries and goes to schools.

Davis, with the help of the DPS carpentry crew, divides the work and gets it displayed so students across the city can see it daily and learn the stories that come with it.

“We’re working with the teachers and encouraging them to utilize these stories across the various disciplines,” he said.

That their story — thanks to the efforts of Dozier — will be introduced to young people is just what they were hoping for.

“That’s our goal. We’re trying to impact to impact 14 and 15-year-olds — and young adults, too — people who are just trying to figure life out,” Grant said.

It’s why he and Chris sat down in front of Dozier’s camera.

And it’s why Horace and Juanita wanted them to do so.

In many ways, the Grants’ story was their story, too.


MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS DIGITAL GUIDE

Mental health issues affect all segments of our community in slightly different ways. Our in-depth reporting focus for the past year has been centered on children and adults through our Mental Health Matters series. This important effort will not stop there; read our continued coverage online.

daytondailynews.com/mental-health-matters

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Team Fiji prioritises athlete well

As Team Fiji athletes are counting down the days to leave our shores for the Pacific Mini Games, they are not only focusing on their physical preparations but on the mental as well That is because qualified ppsychologist Peni Tove is engaging directly with the athletes like he did during the Team Fiji Assembly. Team […]

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Team Fiji prioritises athlete well

As Team Fiji athletes are counting down the days to leave our shores for the Pacific Mini Games, they are not only focusing on their physical preparations but on the mental as well

That is because qualified ppsychologist Peni Tove is engaging directly with the athletes like he did during the Team Fiji Assembly.

Team Fiji says Tove’s session focused on the importance of safeguarding in sport, ensuring every athlete feels safe, respected, and supported both before and during the Games.

They say Tove shared practical strategies on how athletes can identify and respond to safeguarding concerns, manage pressure, stress and emotional challenges and also protect their mental health while striving for excellence.

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They add that as part of their holistic approach for the athletes, a dedicated safe space will be made available to athletes during the Games and at the accommodation – a place to release tension, reset focus, and let go of any negative energy that may affect performance or well-being.

The 2025 Pacific Mini Games will be from Sunday to July 9th.

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India Tops Global Doping Violations List for 2023 with 214 Cases, Govt Moves to Amend …

India has topped the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) global doping violations list for 2023, registering 214 Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) from 5,606 samples a positivity rate of 3.8%, the highest among countries with over 1,000 tests. This troubling development has sparked concern among athletes, officials, and sports fans, prompting the Ministry of Youth Affairs and […]

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India Tops Global Doping Violations List for 2023 with 214 Cases, Govt Moves to Amend ...

India has topped the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) global doping violations list for 2023, registering 214 Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) from 5,606 samples a positivity rate of 3.8%, the highest among countries with over 1,000 tests.

This troubling development has sparked concern among athletes, officials, and sports fans, prompting the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to announce a renewed crackdown on doping. The government is set to amend the National Anti-Doping Bill and ramp up testing and awareness campaigns in a bid to restore the integrity of Indian sports.

India’s Doping Challenge: Numbers, Reactions, and Human Impact

According to WADA’s 2023 report, India surpassed nations like China, the USA, France, Germany, and Russia in doping violations, with 214 positive cases detected. Of the 5,606 samples collected, nearly half were during competitions, and the 3.8% positivity rate is significantly higher than China’s 0.2% and the USA’s 1.0%.

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has increased its testing efforts, collecting more samples than ever before. “Any amount of doping is unacceptable but we have to acknowledge that our testing is vigorous and with every year the sample size is increasing.

With our aggressive awareness campaigns, we intend to bring the numbers down in the next two years,” a Sports Ministry official told the media. Many athletes, meanwhile, have voiced frustration that the actions of a few are tarnishing the hard-earned reputations of the wider sporting community.

The news has also led to calls for better education and support for young and grassroots athletes, who are often most vulnerable to inadvertent violations.

Policy Overhaul: Legislative Changes and New Initiatives

In response to the alarming report, the Sports Ministry has revived and amended the National Anti-Doping Bill 2022. The revised legislation, soon to be tabled in Parliament, will drop the criminalisation of athlete involvement with doping syndicates, following WADA’s objections.

The proposed National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports has also been scrapped to avoid excessive government interference. Instead, the focus will shift to stricter penalties, enhanced testing, and robust education for athletes and coaches.

The Ministry is also pushing digital tools like the “Know Your Medicine” app, designed to help athletes check substances and avoid accidental violations. “We are determined to fight doping. It is not acceptable. That’s why we have increased the sample size every year. If you see the result, there is a decline in the rate over the last few years from over 5 per cent to three per cent. We have been transparent in our policy,” a senior official stated.

The government’s multi-pronged approach aims to balance deterrence with education and support, acknowledging that lasting change will require both systemic reform and cultural transformation.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

India’s repeated appearance at the top of the WADA doping list is a sobering moment for the nation’s sporting community. While stricter enforcement and legislative changes are necessary, the real solution lies in building a culture of integrity, transparency, and empathy.

It is vital to support athletes not just with testing and penalties, but with education, mental health resources, and guidance especially for those at the grassroots who may lack access to information or support. True sporting greatness is rooted in fairness, discipline, and respect for the rules. As a society, how can we collectively support our athletes to compete clean and uphold India’s sporting honour?

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Olympic hero Camille Cheng to bring IOC mental health mission back to Hong Kong

Hong Kong Olympic hero Camille Cheng Lily-mei’s work outside the pool was recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier this month, when she was named one of the body’s first mental health ambassadors. Advertisement Cheng, who has represented Hong Kong at three Olympic Games, travelled to Lausanne, Switzerland, for the IOC Consensus Meeting on […]

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Olympic hero Camille Cheng to bring IOC mental health mission back to Hong Kong

Hong Kong Olympic hero Camille Cheng Lily-mei’s work outside the pool was recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier this month, when she was named one of the body’s first mental health ambassadors.

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Cheng, who has represented Hong Kong at three Olympic Games, travelled to Lausanne, Switzerland, for the IOC Consensus Meeting on Mental Health for Elite Athletes in early June after being invited to serve as the female representative for Asia.

The IOC’s mental health ambassador scheme is a new initiative aimed at putting athletes’ voices and lived experiences at the centre of efforts to address mental health challenges and disorders in elite sport.

Cheng is the co-founder of Hong Kong-based mental health charity Mind the Waves.

“There’ll be 12 representatives: a female representative and a male representative from the Americas, Asia, Oceania, Europe, Africa, and then two more,” Cheng said.

“It is up to the ambassador to be very proactive in how we bring what the IOC is doing in this space to our own region.

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