Man who volunteers with Champ’s Heart and helps so many is honored for Feel Good Friday

EastIdahoNews.com is partnering with Ashley and Ashley Outlet of Idaho Falls to honor people in our community for Feel Good Friday. Every week, we surprise someone deserving of special recognition.

We received an email a few days ago about a man who has done a lot for the community. It said:

My dad’s close friend, Tom Zahn, is a huge inspiration to everyone he meets. He and his wife Julie, who are gearing up to celebrate their 50th anniversary next year, founded the Shepherd’s Inn. Tom also pours his heart into volunteering at Champ’s Heart and doing heaps of other good deeds around town, and for anyone that needs help. Even after being hit with the news of esophageal cancer in April 2023, he didn’t slow down. Between treatments and constant trips to Salt Lake City for doctor appointments, he still volunteered as much as he could. After nearly two years of battling cancer, so many complications led to surgery that removed part of his stomach and esophagus. Eating like before is now impossible, and he even needed a feeding tube for a time. Just when he was getting back on his feet, finally driving himself around and diving back into his volunteer work, pneumonia knocked him down in May. He lost a considerable amount of weight and even suffered through a staph infection in the hospital. But, he persevered and beat it all. By July 20, he had finally ditched all the medical gear and is so deserving of a pick-me-up. He has done so much for my family, and especially my dad, not to mention everyone he has helped at the Shepherd’s Inn and Champ’s Heart.

We agreed that Tom was deserving of a Feel Good Friday surprise, so we tracked him down while he was volunteering at Champ’s Heart. Check out the video in the player above!