Northwestern Lehigh Middle School students learned what a true champion is when Doug Sheriff with Angel 34 Foundation visited their school during their Sept. 30 Tiger Pride kick-off assembly.

Sheriff, of Nazareth, shared his daughter Nicole’s story of her courageous battle after being diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma and about her foundation Angel 34, a non-profit organization that brings hope and healing to children dealing with cancer.

Sheriff also shared Nicole’s seven points of light that she believed radiate out of a champion with the students.

He told the students the seven points are courage, listen, be thankful, affirmation, motivation, humility, and faith.

“Courage is opportunities and what discourages courage is lack of self-esteem and motivation,” Sheriff said.

He told the students they should listen 85 percent of the time and talk 15 percent of the time and listening equals compassion.

He also told them to be thankful for what they have in life.

Affirmation is reinforcing the positive and positive affirmations are contiguous, Sheriff said.

“What we hear, see, say has a direct bearing on who you are,” he said. “What you say has a direct impact on those around you.”

“There are two types of motivation,” Sheriff said. “Extrinsic motivation is like a shower it eventually wears off but it is the intrinsic motivation that propels you through your challenges that never fades.”

He said humility is being humble and faith is faith in others and religion.

He also told the students they have had the opportunity to write their story from the minute they were born and the opportunity to write their own destiny.

“You have a unique role to play within your community, school and home,” Sheriff told the students. “You have the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.

“A true champion is the person who makes everyone around them better,” he said.

Sheriff closed the program with sharing how his daughter’s Angel 34 Foundation is making a difference in children’s lives with ICEE program, providing financial assistance to families, pet therapy, searching for a cure for cancer and more.

To learn more about Angel 34 Foundation, visit angel34.org.