'You live by example': Honoring 2015's Everyday Heroes

By News 13 Florida Orlando

PUBLISHED 2:00 PM ET Mar. 24, 2016

Central Florida honored some of its Everyday Heroes Thursday.

The 52 people who were profiled last year in News 13’s Everyday Hero segments attended a special luncheon in their honor at The Alfond Inn in Winter Park.

These are people who come from all walks of life, from doctors in Clermont raising awareness about men's health to a woman in Orlando helping the homeless in the Parramore area.

Ed Heiland, frequent host of the Everyday Hero segments, said the winners all had one thing in common: They were regular people.

“You live by example, you lead by example, and Central Florida is a better place because of you,” Heiland said.

Molly Halladay is one of those regular people. The 87-year-old was excited and nervous at the luncheon. She was profiled last December for her 33 years of volunteer work at Second Harvest Food Bank in Orlando.

“I’ve been volunteering for Second Harvest Food Bank in Orlando since 1983,” Halladay said. “Just doing filing in the office and anything else they needed. I really appreciate this.”

For Amber Larkin, her calling as an Everyday Hero came out of tragedy. Her son, Noah, was diagnosed with cancer. She started a foundation to back an experimental therapy called “Noah Protocol.”

“It’s not about me, it’s about my amazing son,” Larkin said.

Although Larkin lost her son, the Noah Protocol is now helping other children with cancer. Larkin says she’ll continue to help spread the Noah Protocol.

“We’re going to continue with these NK cell therapies, these immune-based therapies, expand on it to include other doctors and other places,” Larkin said. “This has to change for our children.”

Mike McKenzie says the luncheon was wonderful, but now it’s all about moving forward.

He founded Vision of Flight in 2011, which is dedicated to getting young people interested in aviation, from air traffic controllers to pilots.

“We keep on doing what we’re doing,” McKenzie said. “We just have more intensity behind it. We feel the energy and the recognition. It gives you extra inspiration.”

From the 52 Everyday Heroes, six were chosen for special awards:

Young Hero of the Year
Volunteer of the Year
Public Service Hero of the Year
Education Hero of the Year
The Viewer’s Choice Hero
Overall Hero of the Year

To find out who won, watch our Third Annual Salute to Everyday Heroes special, airing Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. on News 13.

If you would like to nominate an Everyday Hero, head to the Everyday Hero section of our website.

Take a look at the stories for all the Everyday Heroes of 2015 below.