Vince:
 
Thank you very much for being  apart of OBS University in Chicago. Everyone enjoyed meeting you and hearing your very inspirational presentation!
 
I would like to wish you and your family much continued success and happiness. I hope we meet up again sometime.
 
You are a special Guy Vince, and God is using you as an encouragement to many!
 
Thanks also to Janet and Rose for their help………….you all made it happen!
 
Best to you,
Tim Barrett

Vince,
 
Many thanks for joining us in Vegas for the ARDA Convention – the ARDA members really enjoyed your presentation and motivational story.
 
I also wanted to thank you for signing Eagles baseball hats for my kids – Nate, Ben, Oliver and Faith.  I was a big hit when I got home to Carlsbad with these hats!
 
Thanks for all you do to spread hope and personal commitment to achieving dreams.
 
Take care,
 
Jon Fredricks, CHA, RRP
President
Welk Resorts

Mr. Papale, My name is Tim Hubley, I live with a terminal illness called Idiopathic Myoglobinuria. I collect autographs to help pass time. My wife writes letters to just about anyone she hears me speak about, to tell them my story and ask for an autograph. Around the middle of February she sent a letter to you. Last week while I was once again stuck in bed, I received a package from you. In it was an autographed 8X10 and an inscribed copy of the book "Invincible". Annette had just started sending the letters out again around February 1st, so this was the first mail I had received mail in some time, and it could not have come at a better time. I read the book from cover to cover and it made me laugh and it made me cry. Other then the time difference being you came up in the 50's/60's and I came up in the 70's, it brought back memories, as I too, grew up on the poorer side of town (my Dad was a laborer with 6 kids) and was always trying to fit in. Fighting this illness most of my life it was hard. You sir are an inspiration to me and I wanted to THANK YOU personally. I can not go out to movies, so as soon as I can arrange it, I am going to get my hands on a copy of the movie.
 
AGAIN, MR. PAPALE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
 
Tim Hubley

Dear Vince:
 
On behalf of North Miami Senior High School and the City of North Miami, I would like to thank you for inspiring our students to believe in themselves and to live up to their full potential. As part of the initiative to improve school attendance, your motivational story allowed our students to become aware of their innate ability to succeed, despite growing up in impoverished circumstances.  Mayor Kevin Burns of the City of North Miami and the North Miami Senior High School family are grateful for the opportunity to take part in such a highly motivational assembly. 
 
Your journey from an impoverished home situation to the oldest rookie in the NFL to businessman allowed our student’s to realize that success is a choice they make everyday.  Our students now recognize the importance of taking responsibility for themselves and the need to prepare for their future through education.  The “Vince Papale’s 5 Plays” brochure provided by the Sallie Mae Fund is a great tool used by our students to focus on specific strategies to prepare for higher education.  In addition to handing out the “5 Plays” during the assembly, Dr. Pam Smith, CAP Advisor is now giving out the brochures during classroom visits. 
 
Thank you again for sharing your story of hope and inspiration with our students.  I am confident your message will have a lasting impact on the lives of many students attending North Miami Senior High School.
 
Best regards,
Carnell A. White
Principal
North Miami Senior High School

Vince:  for whatever it is worth, I was awake at 5am this morning and turned
on the TV.  I have seen your film before and loved it-but this morning, as I
laid in bed and watched the final minutes that included your tackle, fumble
recovery and TD, I had tears running down my face.  Thanks for never giving
up.
 
Frank Pastuck

Dear Mr. Papale,
 
I can only imagine how many emails you get from athletes (and non-athletes)
who have been touched and motivated by your story. I thought I'd add one
more email to your pile...
 
My name is Kathryn Bertine, I'm 32 years old, and I'm trying to make the
2008 Olympic team in cycling. It is a longshot, but those seem to be my
favorite. Three years ago, I was engaged to a man who didn't believe in me
very much. I found him similar to your ex-wife, perhaps, if the movie
version was an accurate portrayal of the "support" she gave you.  After
tolerating it for too long, I removed him from my life.  In the interim, I
lived on the couches of friends, worked waitressing jobs, got myself back on
my feet and did whatever it took to have one last shot at my athletic
dream.  At that point, I was a rookie professional triathlete, soon to morph
into a road cyclist. I had a good education, a masters degree, and my foot
in the door of a writing career but all I wanted was to pursue my sport. I
had talent, not necessarily a gift, but some solid talent. I thought, maybe
talent and hard work is enough. I knew I couldn't be a professional or
Olympic athlete when I was fifty, so it was now or never. As you know, on
the hardest days, tiredness, pain, and doubt make you question your choices.
I questioned myself a few times--is this really worth it?--and one day I got
quite an answer. From ESPN.
 
In the Fall of 2006, ESPN employed me follow my dream, and to write about
it. Instead of scrounging leftovers as a waitress/cyclist, I was actually
going to be paid to write about my Olympic attempt. It was the greatest
feeling in the world; not only did "someone" believe in me but an entire
sports network was behind me! I am now six months away from the Beijing
Olympics and I may very well get the opportunity to go. I'll spend the next
half-year trying to accumulate the necessary qualification points. My
articles are posted on ESPN.com roughly every month, but they will also be
released as a book next year by ESPN Books. I'd be so honored if you might
be interested in writing a blurb. My editor said he'd get in touch with you,
but I wanted to do it myself.
 
I also wanted to tell you that the night I went to see INVINCIBLE
in September 2006 was the exact same night ESPN ran my first article.  You
have given me so much inspiration and motivation since then, and I just
thought I'd drop you a line to tell you how much your story has impacted my
life. People often tell me I'm too old, I'm too late, I'm too whatever to
make it as an Olympian.  I think that's a load of crap. Somehow, I think
you'd agree. Thank you for being such a great example of athleticism,
perseverance and true victory.
 
I wish you all the best,
 
Kathryn Bertine
Tucson, AZ
ESPN.com

Mr. Papale,
 
I would like to let you know how much my family and I enjoy your movie. Not only do we have it on dvd, but we also watch it on every time it's on cable.
 
I live in southwestern Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh about an hour drive. Yes, we are Steeler fans, it's almost impossible not to be! The 70's were good to us and I am old enough to remember the Super Bowls. More than being Steeler fans, we're football fans, college or pro, doesn't matter. My two brothers and I all played football.
 
My dad raised my two older brothers and I with a strict work ethic along with a lot of discipline. He could be tough, but as tough as he was, he was twice as compassionate. The compassion and love for us and my mom was tremendous.  My dad, who passed away in 1999, was 100% Italian and my mom is also. We relate to your movie in a lot of ways.
 
As I said before, we watch your movie all the time. My son Luca especially likes it, actually he loves it. I will give you a brief history about my son and how your relates to him.
 
A few years ago, my wife and I tried desperately to have children and it wasn't going well for us. We had a lot of disappointments. Went to specialists and so on. After trying for a while, we got lucky, really lucky. I was out on a job (my brother and I kept my Dad's construction business) and my wife called me to tell me we were having triplets. Wow.
 
It was great news. We were and are, beyond happy. We had a few things to deal with though. My children were born three months premature and spent the next three months in a Pittsburgh hospital. They were all under two pounds. We did everything that we could and eventually they came home. If you know anyone that has experienced a similar situation, you understand what I'm talking about.
 
All of our children had monitors and my other son was on oxygen for the next year. Our son Luca was diagnosed with a form of cerebral palsy due to the premature birth. The doctors and therapists told us he has a good chance of walking someday with a lot of hard work. Intellectually, he is very smart. His motor skills were affected. You cannot tell by looking at him that anything is different, other than he is not walking.
 
We are trying several different ways and methods to help him. He isn't walking, yet. We have equipment and therapists helping us.
 
Last summer, we were watching your movie and he started kicking his legs and throwing his arms like pistons. He got so excited! 
 
We have been and still put your movie on when he does therapy to inspire him. He responds very well. He may not understand the game yet, but he senses the intensity and heart that is shown in your movie. 
 
We will continue to show him your movie and when he is older, explain to him what it means and how working diligently will help accomplish your goals.
 
I just would to thank you for some many reasons, but mostly for doing what you did thirty years ago. When you do something like that, you never know how you would inspire others. Thank you.
 
Sincerely - Mark Peccon

Hi Vince,
I just wanted to thank you again for the wonderful job you did for St. Peter’s School. I can’t begin to tell you how special the night was for St. Peter’s! People are still telling me what a great time they had and what a pleasure it was to meet and hear you speak. I hope your flight back to Philadelphia went well as well as your birthday celebration! Personally I want to thank you for not only going above and beyond in everything we asked but also for the wonderful memories my family will have in meeting you and having dinner with you. Both Jillian and Allison enjoyed talking with you throughout the evening. I hope that you enjoyed yourself also Vince. I want you to know that the dinner was a huge success because of the energy and enthusiasm you put forth. I will be sending along the newspaper with the article of the dinner as well as the print you liked. I will also send along some pictures of you and the children at St. Peter’s. Please thank Janet once again for setting up this engagement. I hope both of you know that you will always be in our thoughts and prayers! You really made a difference for a small Catholic School in upstate New York! Be safe in all your travels Vince. - Jim Jones

Dear Mr. Papale
 
I just finished watching your movie about your fantastic tryout for the Philadelphia Eagles.  I am a 70 year old widow who has been a die hard eagles fan most of my adult life. I was so pleased that you were selected for the team when they celebrated their 75th anniversary. What an inspirational story!  How proud your family and friends are of you. - Yvonne Dobson

Dear Mr Papale,

Only today, I found and read the letter that Justin had written to you. I don't think he expected it to actually get to YOU, personally, but to someone receiving your mail. Thank you so very much for responding so kindly to his letter. We really enjoy your movie, thank you for making sure it wasn't r rated, so that so many people can enjoy it.  it's hard to find such an inspirational movie that grandmothers can watch with their grandchildren.  but i wouldn't expect anything less from you! mark wahlberg did a great job with the part, but i think it's a shame he didn't look more like you! not that he's not an attractive man, but he's no vinnie!  you see, i am not a fan because of the movie, i was always a fan!  i took a lot  of flack for being an eagles fan, when all the rednecks around here thought i should pull for atlanta!

i also would like to thank you for all that you have done for cancer awareness.  i understand that you do motivational speaking, if you're ever close to savannah, ga, i'd pay to listen!

thank you, again, mr papale, for being the fine man that you are and for realizing how blessed we all are! God's blessings - lynda renfro

Dear Vince,

some weeks ago my girlfriend and me saw the movie Invincible. It was a big Wow. We were totally amazed and also encouraged as we see your will to fight. The movie gave us power to to keep on running. Thank you therefore!! Chris (29years) from Stuttgart, Germany

Dear Mr. Papale,

Last night we met you while you were dining with your family at Pj's.  Thank you so much for your time and for the personalized autographs you so graciously signed for my sons, Brady & Shane.  My Dad, their Pop Pop, just passed away last week.  He was a HUGE fan of yours!  In fact, we were just talking about him when we noticed you!  We all agreed that he was smiling down on us! I really appreciate you making last night so special for them. You are in inspiration to them. Much thanks - Jill ("we're a football freak family") Trainor