August 18: Never Give Up Day, Helium Discovery Day

Today, on August 18, people in many countries around the world honor people who, despite various difficulties in life, persevered and achieved their goals, and celebrate the Day of "Never Give Up," UNN writes.

The event was launched in honor of the achievement of French swimmer Philippe Croisin.

In 1994, the man received an electric shock of 20,000 volts while repairing his home television antenna. Doctors were able to save his life, but due to numerous burns, all of his limbs had to be amputated.

While still in the hospital, Croizon had the idea to swim across the English Channel. He trained long and hard, and in 2010, equipped with expensive prosthetics, titanium carbonate fins and a triathlon suit, Croizon realized his dream.  

But Croazon did not stop there. He came up with the idea of making a kind of "round-the-world" trip. In  2012, he sailed from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia, connecting Oceania and Asia, crossed the Red Sea, connecting Africa and Asia, and the Strait of Gibraltar, connecting Europe from Africa. On August 18, 2012, the Croisons completed their journey by sailing between the islands of Lesser Diomede and Greater Diomede, connecting Asia and the Americas.

Today, lovers of fine wine can join the celebration of the International Pinot Noir Day.

Pinot Noir is a dark grape variety used to make red wine. Traditionally, Pinot Noir is grown in the French region of Burgundy.

For centuries, this varietal was a staple in vineyards owned by the Catholic Church. The Cistercian monks, known for their meticulous cultivation practices, played an important role in refining Pinot Noir.

Today, scientists can celebrate the event dedicated to the chemical element that makes up 24% of the mass of the Universe - Helium Discovery Day.

In 1868, scientists Pierre Jules Janssen and Joseph Norman Lockyer independently discovered a new element during a spectral study of the Sun.

In 1895, chemist William Ramsey experimentally confirmed the existence of helium gas on Earth. And in 1905, it became known that helium could be found in natural gas in varying concentrations.

Also today, many countries around the world are holding events to mark the Day of the Contraceptive Pill. The event is dedicated to informing women about the advantages and disadvantages of contraceptive pills and their impact on the female body.

Since 2021, events dedicated to World Breast Cancer Awareness Day have been held on August 18.

The event was launched to emphasize the importance of finding a cure for breast cancer and to demonstrate the support of the society for people suffering from this disease.

According to statistics, one in eight women on our planet will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime.

According to the church calendar, today is the Day of Remembrance of the Holy Martyrs Florus and Lavra.

Brothers Flor and Lavr were masons and preached Christianity. Once they were invited to build a pagan temple. According to the legend, they healed the son of a pagan priest with their prayers. Both the priest and his son converted to Christianity and together with Flor and Lavra destroyed the temple and the sculptures of pagan idols.

When the brothers returned home, they were seized by other pagans, thrown into a well, and covered with earth.

The imperishable relics of Florus and Lavra were later transferred to Constantinople.

On August 18, Lavrentiy, Hilarion, Mykhailo, and Denys celebrate their name days.