[ dramatic music ]ing ] ahhhh ahhhh elliott. You came back they are breaking down barriers, creating inclusive opportunities for young people with disabilities, giving out necessities to help People Living on the streets, providing meals and camaraderie for veterans getting back on their feet, bringing happiness to kids living in difficult circumstances. Already these young people are making a difference. Oh, yeah. And are reminders that youre never too young to change the world. Tonight were honored to share their uplifting stories. This is young wonders a cnn heroes special. Hey, im anderson cooper. Life is full of ups and downs. We all know this. But there are some days when the problems of the world just feel relentless, so much so that the prospect of hiding under a rock or going off the grid might seem enticing. But tonight youre going to meet the next generation who offers a beacon of hope and the promise of a better tomorrow. These young people prove there are always solutions
Hey, im anderson cooper. Life is full of ups and downs. We all know this. But there are some days when the problems of the world just feel relentless, so much so that the prospect of hiding under a rock or going off the grid might seem enticing. But tonight youre going to meet the next generation who offers a beacon of hope and the promise of a better tomorrow. These young people prove there are always solutions and kindness and empathy know no limits. Were thrilled to introduce you to this years young wonders, four ordinary kids who found extraordinary ways to bring more decency and light into this world. Despite their young age, they are selfless leaders who see people in need and help them, simple as that. As you meet these young wonders, these remarkable kids will also make an appearance this sunday night. Kelly ripa will join me as cohost as we honor this years top ten cnn heroes live from new york. To kick things off, we travel across the pond to northern england. Jemima browning
18-year-old jemima browning has been a swimmer all her life. she shares a love of the sport with her siblings, especially her brother will, who has down syndrome. when jemima realized that young people like will didn t have the same opportunity to reach their goals, well, she dove in to change all of that. jemima created the tadcaster stingrays. it s an inclusive swim squad for kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities. they reap the lifelong benefits of being part of a team. she s showing her swimmers that their worth included, they matter, and they can go the distance. i ve always been a very sports person. my main sport was swimming, and it was a massive part of my life. i really enjoy the feeling of being able to push myself further than i ever thought i would be able to, get my head down and just forget about whatever worries are going on outside.
people s lives. they can absolutely show other people that just because you have a disability doesn t mean you can t do exactly the same as everybody else. stingrays! jemima hopes the swim squad serves as a springboard for a more inclusive future. coming up, meet a 12-year-old who is helping the homeless one blessing bag at a time. announcer: young wonders: a cnn heroes special is brought to you by cisco, the bridge to possible. tune in to cnn heroes, an all-star tribute sunday night at 8:00 p.m. eastern. and if i didn t find a donor, i probably wouldn t be here right now. be the match uses the power of the cisco network to match donors with patients faster than ever, saving lives like max s. me and dylan are dna twins. dylan s like my brother. cisco. the bridge to possible.
any other swimmer because they just fit in so well. there s no isolation there. i have always found it difficult thinking about will in the future. three, four, five. but now i feel very optimistic about it. to me, he should be able to live a happy and fulfilling life just like everybody else, and i hope that the small part that i ve been able to play in creating an opportunity for him will continue and he feels like he s worthwhile and he s happy. i don t think jemima realizes the enormously positive impact she has on other people and their families. these are from triathlons. when freya was younger, we were told she wouldn t walk, she wouldn t talk.