By Doug Schmidt
Just yesterday, I said to my wife, “What an amazing year we’ve had!” Being selected as PETA Prime’s Sexiest Vegan Over 50 for 2017 was just the beginning of a year that has been full of meeting terrific people and furthering the vegan cause in my own small way.
One of the highlights was heading out to Los Angeles for the PETA Prime photo shoot. It wasn’t getting photographed that was exciting or even being in L.A. It was learning about PETA’s mission and seeing the work being done by the troops on the ground, as well as learning how the group goes about changing minds and changing laws.
Then came the Holistic Holiday at Sea cruise—the prize for being named PETA Prime’s Sexiest Vegan Over 50—and meeting all the vegan doctors who have done so much to improve the health of others. The highlight was meeting Dr. Joel Kahn, the previous winner in 2016.
Just before the cruise, another event thrust me into the limelight with a segment on Good Morning America. In January, my wife, Shari, and I led 1,300 participants from 35 school districts in a 10-day vegan challenge. This event was so well received that we’re repeating it again this coming school year, with a projected participation of over 3,000. I’ve been asked to speak at two conferences, at which I’ll share the results of this challenge.
Little did I know that entering a contest would yield so many rewards, both large and small. The story of the challenge went across the pond to England and all the way to New Zealand and the Philippines. The title of Sexiest Vegan Over 50 has opened my world to the larger vegan world, allowing me to make new friends, influence lives, and help the planet.
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