John O'Leary to bring inspiring message of confidence and hope to The Holmstad

Burned over 98 percent of his body and expecting to die at the age of nine in 1987, John O'Leary recovered and became a change agent of hope and overcoming adversity.

On Tuesday, April 1 at 2 p.m., O'Leary will celebrate the triumph of the human spirit in his presentation "Rising Above Overwhelming Odds," at The Holmstad, a faith-based, nonprofit, continuing care retirement community in Batavia, and operated by Covenant Retirement Communities.

O'Leary endured months of hospitalization, dozens of surgeries, years of therapy and the loss of all his fingers. After the release of his parents' poignant book "Overwhelming Odds," he embraced his past, overcame his fears and began sharing his message on the power of the human spirit.

Since beginning his speaking career in 2005, O'Leary has partnered with more than 850 groups in 46 states and nine countries. In 2011, he received the "Members Choice" speaker award as the highest-rated speaker for Vistage International. He was named one of the Top Ten Most Interesting People in St. Louis in 2009; a Distinguished Young Alumni of St. Louis University in 2007; and inducted into the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame with Cal Ripken Jr. in 2006.

Space is limited. To register, please visit www.TheHolmstad.org or call (877) 226-7310.