That person for your son. Its remarkable to see that. Such a great series. This Champions For Change series that were doing. Great to see a different side of your life. Just wonderful to see that. Erin burnett, thank you so much. Great to see you as always. Really appreciate it. Me, too. Thanks. And up next our onehour Champions For Change special hosted by dr. Sanjay gupta. Reporting from washington, im jim acosta. Ill see you back here tomorrow at 5 00 eastern. Good night, everybody. Every day all l around us people are breaking barriers. Theyre building new connections, and theyre expanding what is possible. 12 of us journalists here at cnn recently met one folks who are making big differences in the world in ways that have personally touched our own hearts. These are their stories. This is Champions For Change. Welcome to Champions For Change, im dr. Sanjay gupta. You know, tonight were going to introduce you to 12 amazing people youve probably never heard of. But theyre all making big, positive impacts on the world. And later in the show, youre going to meet my champion, as well. First, were going to hit the waves with my colleague and friend, coy wire. If you know anything about coy, hes always up for a challenge. And so is his champion. A worldclass surfer who also happens to be a paraplegic. The feeling that i get when im not on the water, thats when i feel the most free. When i was a kid i fell in love with surfing. By the time i was a teenager i was on the path to becoming a professional surfer and surfer magazine named me as one of the top 100 surfers in the country. People dont understand how lucky they are until its taken away. Take us back to that day, march, 1996. The day was beautiful. The waves were really good. I took off on a wave and pulled inside the barrel. When i came out, the wave hit me in my back. And i didnt have too much time to put my hand up. It was shallower than i thought. I hit my head on the bottom. My body went limp and numb. I couldnt move. After that i woke up in the hospital on this rotating bed. When the doctor told me that i broke the Sixth Vertebrae in my neckparalyzed, i was devastated. Im 17 years old, in high school, about to be a professional surfer, now im paralyzed . All i wanted was to be a kid and be with my friends. It was a difficult time because didnt know what my life was going to look like. Growing up for me, sports were my life. Just like jesse billauer. My dream was to make it to the nfl. I need, but in my sixth season i had a scary moment. I hit this guy, and his head came down and slammed right on top of mine. And i got this Burning Sensation down my neck. There was this Tingling Sensation like pins and needles down my right arm. And i didnt really have any strength in it. So i needed surgery. They put a plate and four screws, keeping my fifth and Sixth Vertebrae together. Fortunately for me i was able to come back, but not everyone who gets a Spinal Cord Injury can make it out on the other side the same as they were before. What happened to jesse, it probably would have completely ruined most of us, but jesse found out a way to shine. It took a few years to get back into the water to surf because nobody was really doing this before me. Started doing it more often and figuring it out. Jesse billauer is a trail blazer, one of the pioneers of adaptive surfing. The International Surfing association created the World Paris Surfing Championships in 2015. Jesses won it three times. The thing is, jesse not only got himself back up, hes now helping people around the world. He started his foundation, life rolls on. We take people with various disabilities surfing, skateboarding, and now fishing. We offer these things free to the public. For us having her not in pain all the time and happy, as you can see, gets us through all the hard times. I never thought i could surf. And when i met you, it made a big difference in my life. Its amazing to be able to get back and see the smiles on their face and the parents face. To me thats priceless. At the end of the day when the lights and cameras and people are all back at their house, to be paralyzed, lose that independence, that freedom, thats the real stuff that people need to like see. Surfing and all thats easy. Being paralyzed is hard. I dont think our circumstances truly define us because to me im in a wheelchair, i shouldnt be able to surf. But i look at it like i just do it in a different way. Figure out the strength with inside you and help other people. Im isy billauer, and im ea surfer. Its so important to keep moving. No matter how hard you wipe out. Our next champion knows that lesson well. Cnns Kaitlan Collins met a mentor who went from super bowl running back to Prison Inmate to a pillar of the community with a lot of hardlearned wisdom along the way. What was it like growing up here . Tough, rough. But it built character. Just wanted to try to just make it, survive, and get out. I won State Championship right here in this stadium. You had a ton of records that you broke. Yes. 3,000 yards . In a single season. Football is everything in the south, especially in alabama and especially in small towns like the one where i grew up and the one where sherman grew up in pritchard. Its something the entire community bases itself around. When he signed that scholarship to come to the university of alabama, he became a football legend. Lets bring become must bring back a lot of memories to be here. Yeah, championships and tradition and everything that comes along with alabama football. Williams in the middle touchdown. When but that damage, you also had a dance that you did. The Sherman Shake was my signature. Down, set, hut. Got the shake. And then you got the the quake to go with it. When were you drafted . 1995, nfl draft drafted 46 overall picks for the Dallas Cowboys in the second round. And went on my rookie year to will be a super bowl. He was at the Top Of The World and got cut from the team. Thats when he got into trouble. Why were you arrested . Distribution of conspiracy of marijuana. What was your sentence . My overall sentence was 15 years and eight months. While you were incarcerated, your mom passed away. That was probably the most damaging thing about being incarcerated. It was also part of the motivation to move forward and be a part of the change. Sherman williams was still serving his presence sentence when he had this idea for what eventually became the Palmer Williams group. And together with david palmer, who he played football with, they wanted to start something that could reach disadvantaged youth. When i was released from prison, it wasnt about wins and losses, that wasnt the Measuring Stick anymore. It was about how many people can you help. You all ready for some football . Yeah set lets go. Go get em, go get em, go get em. They mentor kids, they fund scholarships. So much more than the sport that youre seeing today. One, two, three, cowboys see you all monday. I do have little siblings. I want to be a good role model to them. And i know how to do that. Football was our initial sport, but now we have basketball, baseball, soccer, had a cheer program. Its blossomed even beyond sports. Its also about financial literacy, about scholarship, about entrepreneurship. After you were released from prison, you came back here to finish your degree. Sherman c. Williams sr. We try to motivate children to go to college, and what better example was it for me to have a college degree. I think that the Palmer Williams group is more dear to me now than winning the super bowl. That is going to be the most significant purpose in my existence. Legacy of action on the Playing Field and on the field of life. Ahead, ama walker shares her familys musical legacy. Shes going to introduce us to a choir master helping singers with dementia tune in through the power of song. Welcome back to Champions For Change. Rap music is known for laying the rhythm down, but it can also help build young people up. You see the way youre rapping . Embracing the freestyle. See how it happens victor bilaterals champion is blackwells champion is doing just that. His name is alex acosta, and hes a businessman in atlanta who holds gatherings he calls soul food cyphers. A lot of times rap music especially popular mainstream, et cetera, et cetera, the music and the message that you hear justifies a historical negative that black men are violent, misogynistic, black women are overly sexualized, xyz. So why is the lyrical content important . Its important that we change that narrative and we look to showcase the positive elements of hiphop culture through our Cypher Events and workshops and performances, as well. You get obviously a lot out of it, as much as you give to these students. Speak to the question of why its important to pass the art form to the next generation. Sometimes our voice is the only thing we do have, but then youre reminded that you have a power and that your voice matters. Were Building Community and Building Rapport between people. And its a very, very powerful thing. To have like hiphop church, youre going to see love, and youre going to see respect, knowledge, joy. Youre going to see smiles. Theres no Question Music has the power to energize, to soothe, and to evoke memories. It can also help cut through the fog of dementia. Amara walkers champion leads the Amazing Grace chorus, a Remarkable Group of singers dealing with memory loss who raise their voices and their spirits in song. I love this photo of our family together, but this was at my brothers wedding in brazil. And i would say this is probably the last time that we had a true family trip where my mom was somewhat put together. My mother has alzheimers. She was diagnosed about two years ago officially. My mothers name is young sown, shes 76 years old. My mother was my best friend. Mom had three pillars in her life first was family, second was god, she was an jordordaine minister, and third was music. She was a selftaught pianist. She took guitar lessons. She had a beautiful voice. Music has been medicine for my mother. Its been therapeutic. [ applause ] theres power in music. The Amazing Grace chorus is a gathering, a choir filled with love, joy, peace, specifically wanted to make navigating memory loss and isolation a better journey as our elders age. I think shawna moses is a champion for change because she is finding unconventional, more holistic ways to treat dementia patients. And i so appreciate that shes telling us dont solely rely on medications, lets use music, as well, to lift up alzheimers patients, but to also lift up those caregivers who have been sacrificing day in and day out. My father is the one whos been taking care of his wife of nearly 50 years. Yes god is real for i can feel him in my soul that was one of georges favorite songs. And he was 90 years old, and he passed away. And when i come to the choir, i feel im going to be with george. I see transformation of folks. Literally when it looks as if their body comes back responsive. One example i think of is one of our members who almost may seem quiet and docile prior to music starting. When the beat drops, when the music starts, something happens, and its witnessed by everyone. What would you say to loved ones who are on the verge of giving up theyre still there, theyre still there. Sing to them. Music can really affect the brain in ways that are medicinal. It may be that association with those positive memories, or it may be that its actually sparking the parts of the brain that release these chemicals that are counter to the symptoms of agitation and aggression go. It works, we should use it. That has been the most Healing Parts healing part of this journey is sitting my mom down on the piano. To be able to see my mother even if its just 60 seconds lately, its been so soothing for me because at least i can see that shes still there. The enduring love between a mother and daughter. You know, similar bonds spurred my champion into action. After the break, youre going to meet her, and youre going to see how a mothers love sparked a new lifesaving approach to medicine shortages. Charging Something LikeA Hundred Bucks a window when other guys were charging four to fivehundred bucks. He just didnt wanna do that. He was proud of the price he was charging. My dad instilled in me, always put the people before the money. Be proud of offering a good product at a fair price. I think hed be extremely proud of me, yeah. drumroll by lonis, Little League this just in got the keys to what you want and what you need something new Something Sweet moving to a different beat okay now what . can i get a get a drumroll . what . can i get a drumroll drumroll . what . can i get a can i get a drumroll please oohh thats nice yahh ya, can i get a drumroll, can i get a drum thats nice its electric. Hmmm . Its gas. Hmmm . Quite the paradox. It really is both. Hmmm. The firstever lexus rx plugin hybrid. [announcer] do you have an Invention Idea but dont know what to do next . Call invent help today. They can help you get started with your idea. Call now 8007100020. Time now for my champion for change. You know, as a practicing neurosurgeon, i can tell you this firsthand the Pharmaceutical Business is extremely complicated. And ive seen how that complexity can make it hard for some patients to get the medications they need. A group of caregivers is fighting to remedy that situation with a fresh idea and one determined mother. Four years ago, my husband mike and i were sitting in a Hospital Room when our child abby was diagnosed with leukemia. I think anybody whos been in a lifethreatening diagnosis, you know, will remember those moments. We go in, shes going to be able to have her chemo but not today. How come, its on shortage. Abby is clever, nothing gets past her. And she just said, what does this mean . Does this mean i die . She asked you that question. Yeah. Its hard enough that my theyearold had to contemplate 9yearold had to contemplate her mortality when shes diagnosed with cancer and then wonder if shes going to survive because not enough drug was made. What she did next makes her a true champion for change. She put together a consortium of friends and family, and they essentially created a phone bank calling more than 220 Childrens Hospitals around the country and asking all of them did they have the medication that could save abby. Finally, someone said yes. It was a relief and a release of all the stress. And then i felt tremendous guilt. I was haunted by the knowledge that somewhere in the country some other mom and child was going to be going through the same hopeless conversation. This is laura we launched angels for change and almost immediately people began to call. Right now were on a tenyear high for drug shortages. Theres more than 300 essential medicine shortages. Theres four key reasons why theres shortage. The lower the price medicine the more likely it is to be in shortage. The more complicated the medicine, if theres a history of a qa event, if all of it is made by one supplier or one area of the world, its more likely to be in shortage. I think weve gotten so used to thinking about things like amazon, they can anticipate when youre running out of toilet paper, when youre running out of dog food. Youd think the same thing would happen with lifesaving medications, but thats not the case. The entire supply chain has to be engaged i thought what would it look like to partner with the manufacturer and use prediction. She calls it project protect, anticipating which drugs could go into shortage and producing them with other companies before its too late. Their first effort, a 100,000 grant for the for profit stack pharmaceutical to manufacture two specific drugs. Potassium chloride and Sodium Chloride which newborns, nicu patients, picu patients need to survive. Like salt and pepper. You never think youre going to run out of those very simple things. Jared milton oversees all pharmacy and Clinical Services at Childrens Hospital colorado. What if project protect didnt exist . What would have happened in that situation . I shudder to think about what we would have had to do. Potassium chloride, one of the first youre able to anticipate this shortage, basically at risk create medications, and they go into shortage. They did go into shortage. And more than 700,000 treatments were accessed. What we know 700,000 treatments . Yeah. Thats incredible. It is incredible. When you see this now, laura, you see this coming off the line, so to speak, whats that like for you . What i see here is each one of those thats being filled up seven to nine nicu babies are going to get fed today. How is abby doing . She is officially a survivor. Shes doing great. Shes a very normal, typical, bright, clever, fierce 13yearold. You know, i think the real lesson here never underestimate a mothers resolve. Whether its finding lifesustaining drugs or just helping kids navigate todays unusual times. Erin burn set a cnn primetime anchor and mom. She guided her children through the pandemics quarantines and shutdowns, and she did it with the help of this man, her sons karate teacher. Mel ramsey. The unassuming every man. Like teachers everywhere he adapted and got creative with a crucial sense of normality for his students. Did you realize that you were sort of holding a Community Together . Kind of felt the opposite like they w