A summary of the history of my company “CalmandStrong,” and all my accomplishments from 2013 to the present.
I created my company “CalmandStrong” in 2013, a year after I graduated from California State University, Long Beach. After many failed attempts at landing a nine-to-five job, I decided to create CalmandStrong with help from my Life Coach and Mentor.
My Life Coach encouraged me to become an inspirational speaker because of my story of being a two-time cancer survivor and hip amputee during my teen years. While brainstorming we came up with my company name, tagline, target audience, and the purpose of why I should become an inspirational speaker.
My goal is to help people who have been through similar situations as myself. I was a teenager when I was first diagnosed with cancer and I had to get my right leg amputated. I want to be the voice for the voiceless who has ever experienced a serious illness, especially for the teenagers and young adults.
When people ask me,
“Why are you doing this?”
I ask them how many people do they know had knee cancer twice, lung cancer, a knee replacement, and became a hip amputee during their four years of high school?
Since 2013, I’ve completed 20 overall speeches for Toastmasters at CSUSB and received two certificates from Toastmasters International. I also volunteered at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital and completed 221 hours. Loma Linda Children’s Hospital is also where I did my chemotherapy treatment when I was 14 and 17 years old.
I published my autobiography “CalmandStrong: Some People Walk in Each Other’s Shoes… I Carry Mine,” which is available now at your favorite bookstore. My book is about my life from 1999-2013, which is exactly 14-years of my life that was full of pain, struggles, and accomplishments, and I was 14-years-old when I was first diagnosed with cancer.
I’ve also written 125 blogs on my website, and 17 articles on Vocal about many topics such as health and wellness, music, politics, racism and injustice, video games, crime investigations, and sports.
To check out my Vocal profile, click here: https://vocal.media/authors/darryl-richie
A major influence in my life was Sucker Punch Productions’ inFAMOUS videogame franchise and superhero Cole MacGrath.
I was at Loma Linda Children's Hospital (Loma Linda, CA) hooked up to an IV pole with my Grandmother and Uncle by my bedside; similar to Cole (inFAMOUS videogame franchise) who was also in the hospital hooked up to an IV pole with his girlfriend Trish and best friend Zeke by his bedside.
In 1999, this photo was taken of me when I was 14 years old, and the other image I lifted from the original inFAMOUS, which was released in 2009.
PlayStation Sponsorship Link: https://bit.ly/2wyhmO4
Applying for a Sponsorship from Sony PlayStation
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Darryl C. Richie, and I’m an inspirational speaker, author, blogger, and founder of CalmandStrong. My autobiography, “CalmandStrong: Some People Walk in Each Other’s Shoes… I Carry Mine” is available now!
My book is about my story of being a two-time cancer survivor and hip amputee.
Do you have a favorite bookstore? Click here: https://www.books2read.com/CalmandStrongBook
I was 14 years old when I was first diagnosed with knee cancer in 1999, and in 2003, the cancer came back in my right knee and I had to get my right leg amputated. Now I’m a hip amputee and could only walk with a prosthetic leg.
In 2009, I found my Garden of Eden when Sucker Punch Productions released the inFAMOUS videogame franchise. Superhero Cole MacGrath had a positive impact on my life, and my focus is to share my pain, struggle, and accomplishments with the world.
I feel my story is a superhero story because of the adversities I was forced to overcome, and it made sense to compare my story to my favorite superhero: Cole MacGrath.
To find out more information about my superhero story compared to Cole MacGrath’s superhero story, click here: https://conta.cc/2JY7Nd5
I wanted to reach out because I’m aware no big vision can be achieved alone. I believe a sponsorship from Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) could help give me the platform needed to reach a wide audience. I also feel a sponsorship will create positive publicity for both Sony PlayStation and CalmandStrong. There are millions of PlayStation fans who are like myself that related to Cole on a more personal and emotional level that even Sucker Punch didn’t expect.
My target audience are teenagers and young adults, which is also the target audience for the inFAMOUS videogame franchise.
Over the last few years, video games have been condemned within the mainstream media for contributing to violent crime. I believe sharing my experience about how the digital world of inFAMOUS has helped me within my personal life is a story that can change the negative narrative that surrounds video games. I also believe my story could help change people’s perception and perspective about video games.
What makes my inspirational story different and unique from others is that I connect my experiences and realities of being a two-time cancer survivor and hip amputee to the digital world of inFAMOUS and Cole.
In 2017, I created a User-Generated Content (UGC) mission-level called “Digital Inspiration from Cole MacGrath” in inFAMOUS 2. Within the level, I met Cole and told him how he helped me decide to think positive and do something to help myself; or stay in a dark and depressing place because I didn’t have control of my situation when I became a hip amputee.
I posted the gameplay video on my social media profiles, and I received a “Tweet” reply from Sucker Punch Productions Co-Founder and Producer Brian Fleming, and he said:
“We see you, Darryl. #appreciation”
To check out my UGC mission “Digital Inspiration from Cole MacGrath,” click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=8Ghb9JRwQ1A
In 2018, I will be 33 years old, and this year is my 15th year anniversary of being a cancer survivor.
I hope that I have conveyed my interest and experience for a sponsorship with Sony PlayStation. I welcome an opportunity to further discuss my qualifications. Please contact me via e-mail at calmandstrong06@gmail.com at your earliest convenience.
Thank you,
- Darryl C. Richie
www.calmandstrong.net
Disclaimer…
I don’t own any content from the inFAMOUS images. All image content is copyright to their respective owners. No Copyright Intended.
I do not own any content displayed from inFAMOUS (2009). The image displayed were captured and lifted from my personal playthrough of the original inFAMOUS video game.
All Rights go to Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), developed by Sucker Punch Productions.
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