BY KAREN BOSSICK

World-class athlete and motivational speaker Alex Laws will discuss some of the principles from his new book, “Know Your Core: Taking Aim to Improve Personal and Professional Life,” on Thursday, Jan. 9.

The free presentation will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Wood River YMCA.

Laws said he wrote the book as he saw people begin to lose faith in themselves, the country and the community.

“When people lose their core, they will start to doubt themselves,” he said.

Laws has had his share of challenges, which helped him arrive at some of the principles in his book.

He was diagnosed with testicular cancer at 23, which required surgery and radiation treatments. In 1996 he suffered a burst appendix that turned into peritonitis. And a few years later, he had surgery for a strangulated intestine.

“Surprises happen along life’s journey to take you to new places. If you set your mind on something and then do what it takes to make it happen, you may find yourself moving in a whole different direction than what you thought was possible,” he said. “I had a clear idea of where my life was going when all hell broke loose. The last thing I ever imagined for my life is what I’m doing now.”

 “Know Your Core” is available at Zenergy Health Club & Spa, Chapter One Bookstore, Amazon and at www.alexlaws.com.