Hollywood Popular Artists

Feb 19th 2013, 16:48

Tyrese Gibson, who recently inspired us with his interview about Dr. Martin Luther King and the King Center, has a different kind of inspiring story to share. It's the story of Latipha Cross, an amazing athlete and heroic young woman who overcame abandonment, abuse, homelessness and cancer.

Tyrese Tweeted:

#LatiphaCross is my #Shero of the day... Google her... I'm inspired by her determination to run past cancer

— Vision Implementer(@Tyrese) February 18, 2013

Lately Tyrese has been Tweeting a lot about his new book, "Manology," which he wrote with Rev Run. It talks all about "secrets of your man's mind revealed." But there's no secret here: Tyrese is incredibly impressed with Latipha, and it's obvi why.

ESPN recently reported on the stunning story. Latipha was born in a poor area in Detroit and abandoned in her infancy. When she was six, her sister died in a drive-by shooting, and she says that she was abused by the people who adopted her. Wanting to escape from the abuse, she ran from her family, but this led to her being homeless while still going to high school. She got back in touch with her biological father, but instead of getting support from her, he sexually assaulted her. As if she hadn't gone through enough already, Latipha was diagnosed with cancer, not once, but twice -- with lymphoma and melanoma cancer.

While still being treated for cancer, she broke a state record in track. Latipha thought college was just for kids with parents, but then 50 colleges wanted her. Now she is a student at Eastern Michigan University, and her story of survival, athletic talent and bravery is inspiring Tyrese and countless other people. To learn more about her story, check out ESPN's video below about her journey to hell and back.

+ Watch ESPN's "One Sprinter, Many Hurdles."

 

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