阿隆佐·莫宁的篮球名人堂演讲(5)

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More than 20 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease, 20 million Americans, and another 20 million who are at risk. And I immediately felt they were joining me on my recovery in return.

They wrote to me, they cheered for me, and most importantly, inspired me. Attempting to play pro basketball after the transplant changed people's mental approach to overcoming many of the health obstacles they were dealing with.

I had people say to me, "Retire, stop, you can't do this anymore, you have nothing else to prove," and I just thought, this is much bigger than me. I had a goal set for myself to go out and win the world championship, and I was not gonna let kidney disease in that dream.

There's nothing more motivating than meeting all the little kids courageously and relentlessly suffering through these diseases. Many of them that I have a connection with, drawing strength from them, I played the game for them.

Eventually, with Jason's kidney and me, I became at last an NBA champion with the Miami Heat. It felt like the pinnacle until tonight.

That doesn't mean this is the end. God blesses us not for our own good but to give us the tools to help others. Basketball has allowed me to create the Mourning Family Foundation,

where we've done extensive work on behalf of disadvantaged children through education and mentorship, as well as support for for children suffering from chronic kidney disease.

My wife and I get a lot of credit for the work that we do. But none of that is accomplished without the help of so many people, you know, such as Tony Hobson.

Andre Napier, my good friend, who helped to start the foundation back in 1997. Martin Margulies, a Heat season ticket holder and a developer, who built The Overtown Youth Center out of pocket.

Our entire board and our staff, all of them who work tirelessly, thank you so much. This is what basketball has done for all of us, and this is how we'll continue to make it work.

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