Buried Life boys drop into elementary school in Langford
Dreaming big is something two homegrown Victoria boys know something about.
Jonnie and Duncan Penn, two of the stars of the MTV show The Buried Life and who have hung out with such luminaries as the U.S. president and Oprah Winfrey, paid a visit to Willway elementary in Langford last week.
Before the brothers and their two friends Ben Nemtin and Dave Lingwood started the project of B次元官网网址�100 things to do before you dieB次元官网网址� in 2006, they were in need of a vehicle for travelling. So they picked up the phone and started calling friends, family and anyone who could help. Their aunt Jane Penn, principal of Willway elementary, offered up her 1976 Winnebago.
B次元官网网址淲e thought we could contribute to their dream,B次元官网网址� Jane said. B次元官网网址淵ou never know the small gifts and differences that you make in peopleB次元官网网址檚 lives. I am pleased to pay it forward with the Winnebago and for what they boys have done.B次元官网网址�
Jane said she never imagined what her nephews would accomplish after she gave them her camper.
From playing basketball at the White House with President Barack Obama to riding a bull, to opening the six B次元官网网址榦 clock news, the four friends have lived a life that most people dream about.
They are guys who donB次元官网网址檛 take B次元官网网址渘oB次元官网网址� for an answer. Throughout their presentation to Willway students on April 8, the brothers talked about how being persistent helped them conquer one goal at a time.
Duncan and Jonnie said when they decided to hit the court with Obama, no one believed it would be possible. They showed up at the White House and, not surprisingly, were turned away. They stood outside the gates in rented suits.
B次元官网网址淲e stayed outside the White House and asked everyone we saw if they knew the president,B次元官网网址� Jonnie said.
They called members of congress and anyone they could think of that might be able to help them gain an audience with the president. Eventually the four friends found help with the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood, and were able to shoot hoops with Obama.
The MTV show began airing in in January 2010, but the project began in 2006 when the four men were filming independently.
B次元官网网址淵ou can do anything you dream, so dream big,B次元官网网址� Jonnie told the students.
These native Victorians have crashed a party at the Playboy mansion, gotten a lock of Twilight actor Robert PattinsonB次元官网网址檚 hair, escaped from a desert island and asked pop icon Taylor Swift on a date.
Duncan even managed to be the president of eBay.ca for a day, but said he was asked not to come back after trying to sell the company on the website.
Jonnie and Duncan have been working their bucket list for years now. It started when they were attended University of Victoria and started making lists of things they would like to accomplish.
B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 know how how we were going to do them, but we just wrote them down,B次元官网网址� Duncan said.
The four friends decided to start filming their conquests, and at the same time they wanted to help other people.
B次元官网网址淲e were having fun crossing things off our list, but we were really enjoying crossing things off other peopleB次元官网网址檚 lists,B次元官网网址� Jonnie said. TheyB次元官网网址檝e helped people conquer many things, from their fear of heights by getting on a roller coaster to helping a young teen obtain and furnish an apartment for his homeless father.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e inspired me,B次元官网网址� Jane remarked. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e taught me itB次元官网网址檚 never too late to go after your dreams.B次元官网网址�
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
