EDINBORO — She’s known for competing in grueling challenges on two of MTV’s biggest-hit reality series. But for Diem Brown, the road of life’s real challenges have been fought and won off-screen.

Just after being chosen to compete on “Road Rules: Fresh Meat” in 2005, Brown — who said she was just getting her bearings straight after the unexpected loss of her mother — was diagnosed with stage two ovarian cancer.

What followed, she told a crowd of hundreds of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania students Monday, was “awful pain — intense, immense, awful pain,” and a doctor’s declaration that she could hope, at best, to live for about five more years.

“That’s not gonna work for me,” she said was her reply.

So, determined as many with terminal sentences are to live life to its fullest, Brown continued on to participate in that show’s season, and more recently to appear on MTV’s “Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Duel.”

And in the meantime, she’s become cancer-free and established Live for the Challenge, a Web-based charity organization (at www.liveforthechallenge.com) that helps medical patients establish registries to help with materials and expenses. Similar in design to maternity and wedding registries, the concept, put into action last fall, is the first of its kind to get off the ground.

“I think every single person has their ‘cancer.’ Everyone has a roadblock in their life,” she said. “For me, the best thing was … finding somewhere to go toward,” to give back.

Speaking on the importance of giving back was what brought Brown and one of her co-stars from “The Duel,” Brad Fiorenza, to Edinboro. Both were guests at the university’s second annual Philanthropy Day, an event to highlight and promote goodwill and service in the campus community and beyond. All proceeds from Monday’s event will benefit the newly-established university Student Legacy Scholarship fund, which provides an annual award to a senior with demonstrated financial need.

“Whenever I get a chance to stop and do charity work, I always do,” Fiorenza told the Tribune at a meet-and-greet with top scholarship fund-raising groups and volunteers prior to the presentation. “You’ve got to stop and give back whenever you can. … I wish I had more time (to give back). As soon as I do, I will.”

At the meet-and-greet, university student Katie Hain was admittedly star-struck by the presences of both Brown and Fiorenza. “It’s really awesome. It’s a privilege that I got to meet these people. I talked to both of them,” she said. “They’re both really nice. … (But) I didn’t really know what to say.”

Marilyn Goellner, director of the university Annual Fund and Stewardship program, said inviting easily-identifiable celebrities like Brown and Fiorenza to the campus is one effective tool to get students excited about getting involved with the university’s civic works. “We have a captive audience,” she said with a laugh.

The events were organized by university graduate student Seth Travis and sponsored by the university Marketing and Development Office, Student Government Association, Planning Board and the SOLID volunteer group.



Group will promote philanthropic endeavors

EDINBORO — With a captive audience of hundreds of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania students before him, Seth Travis used Monday’s campus visit with two MTV reality show stars to announce the formation of a new student organization designed to promote philanthropic endeavors across the campus community.

The Edinboro University Philanthropic Council “is something we’ve been working diligently on,” the university graduate students told the crowd, as a way to provide student perspectives on the university’s philanthropic endeavors and to create greater awareness of those efforts.

“You have the power to create a culture of giving back, not only to your university, but to people around the world,” said university President Frank G. Pogue. “One of the most important things you’ll ever do (is) to be sensitive to the needs of others.”

GREAT Scots is a new organization made of up university students coming together to form the council. GREAT stands for: generating awareness of philanthropy; replicating other successful philanthropic events; educating students and organizations within campus and the community; articulating campus-wide organizational programs; and triangulating needs, resources and audiences to enhance the community and university.

“They’re going to be called GREAT Scots because they’re going to be doing great things,” said Travis.

- To get involved and/or for more information about EUP’s Student Philanthropy Council: Visit www.edinboro.edu.



Ryan Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at rsmith@meadvilletribune.com.