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Running for My Life is an inspiring true story of a man who never gave up on himself. It is about achieving the impossible by persevering through the rough obstacles of life. Lopez Lomong was poor Lost Boy of Sudanese that eventually became a Nike sponsored athlete on the US Olympic Team for running. His incredible life story gives hope to other to pursue unthinkable dreams.

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The clip begins on chapter 5. In this clip the narrator is talking about it's home village.

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Chapter seventeen page 139 Running for Joy 

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Chapter seventeen page 139 Running for Joy 

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"I trotted around the track, warming up. The stands were full. CBS Sports cameras covered every angle of the track. I should have been nervous, but I was not. A few months earlier I faced the pressure of an NCAA championship final race when I won the 3,000 meter indoor."

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Lopez Lomong's Payton Jordan 5k Lap Mishap (2012)

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"However, after four months in the Rogers' home, I realized I was not here by mistake. Mom and dad wanted me here. A little light clicked on for me during the cross-country season. they came to every single meet. They never missed one. No other parents came to all the meets, But mine were always there."

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Lopez Lomong was not originally raised by his real parents until he was 16 years old and came to America. Then his foster parents brought him in and ended up adopting him at the age of 16. Before that he was a Lost Boy from South Sudanese. He was born January 5, 1985. (more information about his family and h below.)

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In the last few weeks, we've heard so much about Joseph "Lopez'' Lomong, the former Tully track and cross-country star who made the U.S. Olympic track team.

Today, I want to introduce you to Robert and Barbara Rogers, the couple who welcomed Lopez and five other young men into their home on Otisco Lake.

Read my story in today's Post-Standard.The couple's faith inspired them to respond to an ad in a church bulletin seeking foster parents for the "Lost Boys'' from Sudan.

The idea sounded good in the beginning, but there were some concerns.

In a country that still struggles with race and racism, the couple worried about the ramifications of bringing "very black, young men from Africa'' into a predominantly-white community. But they ignored those concerns and followed their faith and heart.

"Our son Rob, who was grown and in college, told us we were absolutely out of our minds,'' Robert Rogers said. "Barb's dad, who had been a sheriff down in Binghamton told us that it was a stupid idea. There were some concerns over their health that we could perhaps contract something from them or that they might be unhealthy. There were a lot of concerns, but I figured that if God had told us to do this, he probably had a handle on things. ''

The couple were amazed at how many people in the community embraced the boys. Everyone from the Tully school district to the parishioners at St. Leo Church supported the boys.

Rob and Barb's experience with these boys demonstrates that we can all transcend race if we open our hearts and minds to people who don't look like us.

Here's videographer Steve Pallone's video on the couple.

Robert and Barbara Rogers are the foster parents of six Sudanese refugees who they have taken in to their Tully home over the past eight years. Lopez Lomong was the first of these 'Lost Boys of Sudan' to enter their life and he has forever changed it, not only through his success as an award winning runner at Tully High School and Northern Arizona University which has led to a berth on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, but also by the perspective on life he has given them. Video by Steven J. Pallone (4:58)

There were some negative experiences, but the Rogerses used them as teaching moments.

Besides helping the boys adapt to American culture, succeed in school and meet their basic needs, the couple also had to educate them about how to deal with law enforcement, a lesson that many black parents in this country teach their children.

Lopez and two of his foster brothers were stopped by police in Syracuse when they went to pick up some friends for a day trip to Darien Lake at 4 a.m.

Two years ago, a sheriff deputy followed Peter Anthony as he drove around Tully checking the couple's apartments, Laundromat and running some errands.

The deputy pulled Peter over and asked about the car he was driving. The couple were out of town and told Peter to check on their business.

"It's registered to my mom,'' Peter said when the deputy asked about the car. "My mom owns the Laundromat.''

"What I try to teach them is do not get angry when this happens, but use it as an opportunity to let the (cops) know that you're a respectable person to earn their respect back,'' Barbara said.

The couple's foster sons range from ages 15 to 23. All six boys are doing well in school.
Lopez took a year off to train for the U.S. Olympic team, but he has one more year at Northern Arizona University where he's majoring in hotel management.

Here's a snapshot of the other five boys.

Dominic Luka, 23: runs indoor and outdoor track at Northfolk State University in Virginia, where he's a senior majoring in business management and information system.

Peter Anthony, 20: plays soccer at Buffalo State University where he's a junior majoring in political science.

Ohure Sam, 17: an eleventh-grader at Tully High School; runs cross-country and track.

Obang Okor, 15: tenth-grader at Tully High School where he plays soccer, basketball and outdoor track.

Omot Okor, 17: an eleventh-grader at Tully High School; runs cross-country and track.

"Our goals for the boys were obviously to be healthy, be safe and beyond that we wanted them to be successful,'' Barbara said. "Successful would mean different things for the boys, just like in any typical family. Some will excell academically, some will be more into their social life. Our main goal is for them to graduate from high school, college and make good decisions in their life. I would say Lopez has made some amazing choices.''

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on this story. Post a comment.

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Jennifer MeyersLopez Lomong's foster family at their home on Otisco Lake. Barbara Rogers is seated in the front. In the second row from left to right are Ohure Sam, Obang Okor, Robert Rogers and Omot Okor. Peter Anthony(left) and Dominic...

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Chapter nine page: 69                  No Good- Byes 

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Chapter nine page: 69                  No Good- Byes 

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"I heard the airplane before I saw it. I was in my tent with my friends, talking about America, when we heard the drone of its propellers. "This is it!" I yelled out. I jumped up, grabbed the white envelope I received at church a week earlier,  and took off running toward the airfield in the middle of the camp."