From Tragedy to Triumph

In January 2008 my wife Janice and I were speaking at a number of leadership conferences in the Philippines. Whilst in an isolated rural area on the island of Mindanao, Jan collapsed and was diagnosed with brain tumors. While in the hospital there, she spoke the following words to me “I am not afraid to die but I am afraid to live and not fulfill what is in my heart”.

We had been visiting this region for more than 12 years and Jan and I were passionate about helping bring change to communities. Jan”s next question was “What can we do now Ian? We cannot wait any longer”.

In that room the vision that would become Noble Endeavours was born. Jan lost her battle with cancer in March 2010 and in the last few months of her life she talked a lot about what legacy would remain after she had passed on and whether our efforts would continue to affect peoples lives for good after we have gone. Jan left this earth with the knowledge that what we had already started in the village of Sandongan Central Mindanao would continue to grow and prosper.

“Life just seems to make more sense when our dreams, visions and goals are bigger than us.”
- Ian McKay, CEO, Noble Endeavours