TBT #2

here is another "Throwback Thursday" post. this pic was taken 2 months ago today at the Great Strides walk. all of our walkers went to the Walgreen's table and grabbed some crazy clothing accessories and posed for this crazy pic. yes, it is our crazy walkers being a little crazy...

Walk Day 2014!

On May 3rd, over 300 people took GREAT STRIDES to cure Cystic Fibrosis in Roanoke. It was the 15th time Nic's Team has been there. Unfortunately, our team's namesake, and my son, Nic, and his mom, Erica, could not attend this year because Nic was in the hospital dealing with some breathing problems. Frequent hospital stays are part of life for CF'ers and this stay came as a surprise a few days before the walk. But our walkers still came out strong in support of the CFF (www.cff.org) and the fight to cure this nasty disease.

As of today, the TOTAL AMOUNT raised by Nic's Team this year is over $1600. The overall total for Roanoke's event was at least $51,000.  THAT IS SO GREAT! It might be the biggest amount EVER for this event. LOTS of TOMORROWS can be added with those funds.

This year's turnout of supporters was the BEST EVER at the Roanoke walk. There were 15 NEW teams and a bunch of returning teams. I'm not sure why there are so many new participants but the added support is a very good thing. It is not just about getting money for research, it is also important to raise awareness of this disease and the challenges that CF patients face everyday. A lot of credit goes to the Roanoke walk committee members and the CFF employees who work at the office in Richmond.

  
This was the biggest walk team the we have ever had! BIG THANKS to everyone that came out to walk (especially the CADWELLS) and EVERYONE who sponsored our team.


Here is the 2014 walk team....  from LEFT to RIGHT; TOP ROW: Griffin (not a mythical creature), Somer (Nic's sister), Archie (Nic's step-grandpa), Cody (Nic's cousin), Linda (Cody's grandma); MIDDLE ROW: Joel (Nic's uncle), Melissa (Nic's Aunt), Ree (Nic's grandma), ME (holding sign), Elsie (Nic's other grandma); FRONT ROW: Sierra (not a firefighter), Alicia (Cody's sister)

After the walk, the team went over to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital to visit Nic. Here he is with his cousin Cody. They have been best buds since they could talk.

UPDATE:  Nic got out of the hospital the next day and continued IV's at home for about 2 weeks. He is doing much better now. Next up for Nic, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION!

Walk Day 2013: Best Photos, part 1

here are some of the best photos that we took on May 4th at this year's Great Strides walk....

more photos coming up in part 2.....

Great Strides 2013

last saturday was GREAT STRIDES 2013 in Roanoke. a really good crowd came out to Hollins University for the walk. it was a little cool early in the day but the rain held off and the sun came out. everyone had a great time! we raised lots of money for the CF Foundation. here is our team pic:

Nic's Team 2013 walkers...  
(top row, left to right): Storm (not in the X-men); Somer (pink hair, Nic's sister); Nic's Dad (me)
(bottom row, left to right): Erica (Nic's Mom); Granny Ree (my Mom); Nic (skater dude); Bates (big dog)




coming up: more pics from walk day

Great Strides 2004

these pics are from Great Strides 2004...

I took these with my first digital camera. It was a big bulky thing that used floppy discs and it was great at the time. Now, less than ten years later, most cell phones can take better pictures. It is amazing how times flies. This is Nic with a film camera....

 

 

In 2004, Nic was 8 years old. When the news reporter from WDBJ-7 (link) needed someone to interview about the why we were walking, it was Nick. He was a tv star on the news that day. Pretty cool!

That reporter's name is Jennifer Wishon Gilbert. She no longer works in Roanoke but instead works in Washington, DC as the White House correspondent for CBN (link).

This last one is very special. It is my then little daughter Somer who is almost 14 now. This was back when we had to run to keep up with her. She did stand still long enough to wear a crown.

time flies... Great Strides 2013 is this Saturday!

Great Strides 2006

here are some of my pics from Great Strides 2006.....

in 2006, Nic's Team did very well!  we raised $1485. but we have not had a year that good since. so PLEASE HELP US make 2013 the best yet!  click on the graphic below to SPONSOR US!

more good stuff coming up .....

Nic's Team: 2012 Final

BIG THANKS TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS!!


Nic's Team has participated in Roanoke's Great Strides walk to cure Cystic Fibrosis for 15 years. It really is the only way we can help CF patients have better futures. Supporting research adds tomorrows. That's why we do it. Our FINAL TOTAL for Nic's Team from 2012 was $1295!

Roanoke's overall total: over $42,000

the CFF's National goal for 2012 was $40 million

here were the
TOP TEN Roanoke Great Strides Teams in 2012:

1) Team Kominsky $8,135

2) Ella & Karlie's Angels $5,769

3) Ayla's Angels $4,994

4) Optical Cable Corp $2,815

5) Team Caroline $2,671

6) Katie's Kurefinders $2,574

7) Team Rylan $1,722

8) Nic's Team $1,295

9) Sissy's Team $1,268

10) Better Together $1,000

some of those teams had a lot of walkers. it isn't a competition of course but it would be great if our team can get more walkers and do a whole lot better this upcoming year. all teams are striving for the same goal: raise as much money as possible so that we can Make CF stand for CURE FOUND! i hope every team does just as good if not a little better in 2013. 


more funds = better research = adding tomorrows

walk day 2013 is May 4th

SUCCESS at Great Strides 2011!

BIG THANKS to everyone who supported Nic's Team in the Great Strides walk in 2011! Our team contributed about $800 this year. A little short of our goal but not too bad. The overall effort was very successful.  The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Virginia reports that the Roanoke event raised $38 Thousand dollars by walk day this year, exceeding the set goal of $34,000. The final tally is expected to be over $50 thousand dollars going directly to the CFF National Office and then directly towards research. This is why we take strides to cure CF. Donations buy Research. Research buys Life.

Here are some of my pics from this year's Great Strides walk in Roanoke on May 7th.......

 

The walkers of Nic's Team included 1 non-human. Yes, it is really a remote-controlled robot. It was built by the Robotics team at Patrick Henry High School. Nic is a member of the team. Big Thanks to Robotics teacher Mr. Cotter for bringing the robot outside on a Saturday.

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Nic and his teammate Cody drove the robot for the entire course.

When everyone started walking around the campus, our robot-led team was able to keep up a decent pace with the group. but....  

     

....as we started going uphill, the small machine couldn't quite keep up with the other walkers.

  

As we passed by the stables, one horse may have been wondering what was that strange thingy going by.

By the time we got to the biggest hill on the back side of campus, the other walkers were out of sight.

Finally, Nic and his robot reached the end of the course. We didn't set any speed records, but we finished.

There were lots of FUN activities for the walkers to do after the walking was done. There was a DJ playing music, PIZZA, refreshments, crafts for the kids, a clown making balloon animals, and even BUBBLES! 

The DJ led a limbo contest and a hoola-hoop contest. The robot even did a little demonstration to entertain folks. A great time was had by all!

new videos from GS '11 coming up.....