Local 'Survivor' Winner 8 Years Later

It’s been eight years since Chris Daugherty outwitted, outlasted and outplayed the other contestants on “Survivor: Vanuatu.”

He was the last man standing and walked away with $1 million.

“They tell you life’s going to change, nothing will be the same, different job, you’ll probably move,” Daugherty said. “I kept telling them, ‘I don’t think so.’”

Eight years later, Daugherty has the same outgoing personality, still works in construction and still lives in Madison County.

He’s married to the same woman he was dating while on the reality show, a woman he calls the true survivor in his journey.

Lorie Daugherty was diagnosed with breast cancer the year after Chris won.

“We went from joy joy joy to we were hanging our heads, and we were fighting,” Daugherty said.

Daugherty said that the two fought harder than he ever did on “Survivor,” and went through a whirlwind of emotions. In the end he – and his wife – came out stronger and determined to make a difference through charity work with cancer patients and autistic children in underfunded school districts.

“They have a lot in their hands to take care of this child, and for that child to have the proper education and the opportunity to go to school and interact with others,” Daugherty said. “Some children don’t get that opportunity.”

Daugherty said that wants to help thousands of children have that opportunity and to fulfill their dreams.

Just like he fulfilled his on “Survivor.” He said he would go back to the game in an instant.

“I crave, crave that opportunity,” Daugherty said. “I’d go back tomorrow, this evening.”

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