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!

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.....

this SATURDAY

this SATURDAY is Roanoke's Great Strides for CF. Nic's Team is ready to go and excited because the weather forecast is good. it is always held on the beautiful Hollins University campus. here are some of my best pics from last year's walk.....

here is a pic of the walkers for Nic's Team in 2010. it is me (hat), Nic (yellow shirt) and his sister Somer, with Granny Ree and Papa Archie...

new pics from 2011 coming up next week....