Heroes nominator: 'He inspired my wife and I so much that we moved to Cambodia to help him.'

Aki Ra and his Cambodian Self Help Demining group have made Cambodia safer by clearing about 50,000 mines and weapons.

Posted: November 5th, 2010

VOTE FOR THE CNN HERO OF THE YEARWATCH CNN HEROES: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE.

Program Note: CNN Heroes received more than ten thousand nominations from 100 countries.. A Blue Ribbon Panel selected the Top 10 CNN Heroes for the year. Voting for the CNN Hero of the Year continues through November 18th (6am ET) at CNNHeroes.com
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Bill Morse Nominated Aki Ra HIS STORY

I first heard of Aki Ra about 7 years ago and came to Cambodia to find him. I was intrigued by the story of an ex-child soldier clearing landmines wherever he could find them and caring for wounded and orphaned kids at his home.

I returned to the U.S. a changed person.

What Aki Ra has accomplished is amazing. With little education, and nothing more than a determination to make his country safe for his people, he has cleared tens of thousands of landmines, and saved or changed the lives of dozens of children. He has galvanized people around the world to his cause, and reminded everyone that the horrors of landmines are not gone; that they kill and maim on a daily basis.

He defies the common belief that ‘one person can’t make a difference’. His work has inspired me and hundreds of others around the world to find a cause and support it.

He inspired my wife and I so much that we moved to Cambodia to help him in his work.

I don't have a lot of heroes. But my 'short list' is headed by Aki Ra. We hope that his nomination will inspire people to support the work of his mine clearing organization, and that we can see the scourge of landmines and unexploded bombs wiped from the face of the globe in our lifetime. People are being killed and injured every day. Landmines will be cleared by people like us, working together, giving a little bit here and little bit there.

But most importantly I want people to know that no matter where you are, whatever your background, or your economic condition, you CAN make a difference. Each of this year’s heroes saw challenge and began working to solve it. It all begins with little steps….and no step is too small.

We clear one mine at a time. As Aki Ra told me years ago: Minh Mui – Cheevit Mui (0ne Mine – One Life)
Thank you CNN for recognizing the work of everyday people. They will change the world.

Thank you CNN for recognizing the work of everyday people. They will change the world.