Our 2009 Passports with Purpose Winners

Submitted by Dr. Jessie Voigts on Sat, 01/09/2010 - 16:37.

As you may know, we participated again in this year's Passports with Purpose raffle. PWP raised over $27,000 to build a school in Cambodia! It was incredible - and obviously, life-changing. I'd like to share some information on our two winners, Amy B. Scher and Carlo Alcos. When I asked for more information from each of them, I was so happy to learn more about these wonderful writers and world travelers! Here's what they had to say...

Amy B. Scher is the winner of our $150 Restaurant.com gift certificates.

A former corporate marketing guru and now a happy web development director, I am content tapping quietly on the keys of my computer from wherever I am working. After struggling for over seven years with a chronic illness, I hold even more importance than before to the little things in life, and none to anything else. I find contentment in writing, reading, photography, cooking, and cleaning (yes, really). I am a computer nerd, make a mess when I “organize” things, and play in the mud when I garden.

After traveling all over the U.S. to find out why my 25 year-old body was falling apart, I became a patient pro. Finally, in February of 2007 I discovered the reason for the suspicious ailments that led to my permanent disability no one could unscramble - a missed case of Lyme Disease and other co-infections. Since then, my journey has taken me to Delhi, India for three rounds of embryonic stem cell therapy, an experimental leap of faith that I credit for the absolute perfect health I am in today.

As complicated as my life as been, I'd never trade a single second of it for anything.

http://healthcarehacks.com/amybscher

Carlo Alcos won the $100 gift card, courtesy of BedAndBreakfast.com

I am a writer and photographer, currently spending much of my time as Co-Editor of Matador Trips, one of 10 travel-related sites on Matador. I also contribute content across the network.

I grew up in Vancouver, BC, Canada. My childhood was spent shredding up the concrete of Langley on my skateboard. I moved to the snowfields in 1989 to take up snowboarding, although after about 16 years of that I’ve put it away.

I travel with my wife. We’re inseparable, except when we’re apart. Campervanning is one of our favourite methods of travel, although we are about to try our hands at cycle touring. I love to hike where the air is clear, the ground is crunchy, and the water is cold.

I like to wonder and question everything, which is why I love reading writers who offer alternatives to generally accepted ideas (and which is why I love a good conspiracy theory).

I’ve been living in Melbourne, Australia since January 2008, but will be moving on in January 2010. I don’t know where we will settle again, and I love that.

http://carlo-alcos.com/

Amy and Carlo - congratulations! Thanks to everyone at PWP for their hard work in making this new school a reality. Next year's Passports with Purpose looks to be even better - we can't wait!