Our Story
COURAGEndures is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, social enterprise that cultivates, curates, and creates unique experiences online and around the world to address the top challenges facing diabetics on a daily basis.
COURAGEndures provides a safe place and platform to make new friends, strengthen relationships and find uplifting and inspirational stories from others along a similar journey.
Our goal is to foster the conversations and community needed for the movement, motivation and momentum needed to live more independent, inspired, and impactful lives.
Our Founder
COURAGEndures founder, John Brandenburg, created a platform and community for sharing and inspiring enduring courage after first having to come to grips with the daily challenges of type 2 diabetes.
Prior to his diagnosis in 2011, John had watched his father die from type 2 diabetes and his mother struggle with Alzheimer’s as a result of the same condition, but remained passive about his predisposition to the condition.
It wasn’t until he himself was diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic that John became suddenly and intensely receptive to the reality of his health. John’s diagnosis awoke the courage within him, and he knew it was time to take control of his health.
Rather than being defeated by his diagnosis, John became empowered to take charge of his life and be fully awake from that point on. He cleaned up his diet, and exercised regularly. For John, changing his diet and making sure to bike and run regularly was how he decided to better his life and live optimally. But, despite his early efforts, John got the news that there was a blockage in his heart three months post-diagnosis, and that he would need to undergo bypass surgery at just 44 years old. Although this development was significant, the operation went very well, and he rebounded from the surgery with the same drive to optimize his health and live his best life. This positive outlook and dedication to his lifestyle choices led to John climbing his first mountain in California just six weeks after his bypass surgery.
Since his diagnosis and surgery, John tries to live each day with courage, knowing that fear can creep back into one’s life all too subtly and easily. As a result, he lives a dedicated, active life, and hopes to inspire others to seize control of their lives, and to realize that courage comes from within. He thinks all types of enduring courage should be shared, encouraged and celebrated, and hopes that CourageEndures can be a platform and community for just that.
The daily struggles and constant pressure of making the healthy and right choices can be daunting and draining.
THE COURAGE LOGO
The COURAGEndures logos are based on the Japanese symbol for courage. It is fitting that the central element-- the box across the runner’s chest -- encompasses the heart, for ultimately, that is where courage lies. Heart and COURAGE ties in the physical (heart as a muscle) with the symbolic (heart as source of courage).
THE WARRIORS HEART SYMBOL
The “Warriors Heart” symbol symbolizes a fighting spirit and to never give up. The symbol is based on the anatomical correct picture of the heart with the Japanese symbol for courage in the middle of the heart. It gives us the freedom to place our Warriors Heart where we need it.
The picture of the anatomically correct heart is to remind us that heart is a physical moving machine and it needs you to care for it, but if you do it will supply you with more power to fulfill our greatness. Combine that power with the Courage and their isn’t anything that can stop us!