Great Gift / Contribution!

Hi all.. hope you're finding this to be a wonderful Holiday Season! Wanted to let you know of a fantastic gift from an area family. Each Christmas, this family comes together and instead of excessive gift buying, they chip in money for a charitable donation, and the 'host family' then selects where the contribution goes.

Well, this year, they selected JDRF (earmarked for Roll & Stroll in honor of one of their family members!) Very nice! Thank you!

Thanksgiving Tips

Here's a link with many great diabetes tips to help you get through the holiday!

http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowContent/daily_living/special_occasions/thanksgiving.html

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mom's Night Out - Update

A previous post didn't include the address for Outback Steakhouse, location of the Dec 2nd Mom's night Out. Be sure to go and enjoy!

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
1201 S Broadway, Rochester
Outback's Phone # 507-252-1150
RSVP to Jody Morbeck
507-289-2788 or Jstt4th@aol.com

Thanks... Tom

Roll & Stroll 2009!

We held our first planning meeting this week! Can't wait to get things up and rolling! We're searching for a media sponsor this year. We sure could use more PSA's and overall, more media attention, as it's time to find a cure!

I'll be back this weekend to lay out a little bit of the vision for you for the 2009 event. Would love to invite new people to join our efforts!

Tom

Great Fun!

Hi all.. time for another Mom's night out!

Please join us at The Outback Steakhouse in Rochester, Tuesday, December 2, 7:00 P.M. This is a great chance to meet other mom's, enjoy great conversation and relax!

Please RSVP to Jody Morbeck at 507-289-2788 or Jstt4th@aol.com

2009 Roll & Stroll!

The planning for a successful 2009 Roll & Stroll gets underway next Monday, 11/17! Looking forward to getting back after it with this great group of people!

If you've never been part of the process, and want to jump in, just let us know at rollandstroll@hotmail.com We'd love to bring you on board!

See you Monday!

Mom's Night Out - coming soon!

Rochester Area:

Mom’s Night Out!
Tuesday, October 28, 7:00 P.M.
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
380 17th Ave. NW, Rochester.
507-288-8722.

Please RSVP to Jody Morbeck at
507-289-2788 or Jstt4th@aol.com .

Best Year Yet!

Hi all.. from a fundraising update, we have some grants still coming, and with them, it looks like we'll hit $45,000 for the Roll & Stroll! Add on top of that a Ladies Night Event is being planned for this fall at Rochester Market Square. What a 2008!

Nice work everyone, and keep checking back. We'll go back to periodic updates on this blog as we lead to Ladies Night, and any other related events ahead! (I'm afraid I'm technology challenged, so things like Photo's and Sideshows have been slow to be posted, but I've found someone to help me). 2008 Photo's should appear this week.

Thanks, and remember to keep "Cure Type 1" on your to-do list... it's going to be awesome the day we all cross that off!

Still Counting!

Hi all.. just wanted to let you know, with the money that has already come in, plus what we know is still coming, the 3rd Annual Roll & Stroll has been our most successful fundraising year yet! Thanks so much for making it happen!

From Volunteers to Sponsors to Participants.... you're all the best!

You Are Amazing!

Hi all... what a day! Thanks so much for being part of it! You are amazing, never forget that! We're going to sleep now, but will post details as to funds raised, as well as updates as to "what's next!"

Thanks for all you do! Superstars!

Roll & Stroll Crew Rocks!

I'm going on record. A Post Bulletin article came out this afternoon, and it would make it appear that Wendy and I are the people who make Roll & Stroll happen. That's not true! We, with you, make this happen!

We, with the many core volunteers on our planning committee!
We, with the fantastic corporate sponsors!
We, with the huge amount of people who help on event day!
And most of all... we, with the people who show up with a passion to help find a cure!

With a slight allowance for editing... I would suggest a a legendary rock group had Roll & Stroll in mind when they sang....

You are the champions, my friends.....

Another Great Day!

Wow... let's pray for a day like this on Sunday! It's awesome out there!

I'm picking up the generously donated bicycle today, along with another wonderful donation of a custom fishing rod. We should find out today, if we're getting a 1/4 beef donated, or it it will be split into bundles for our auction. Later I'll zip over and pick up the Roll & Stroll t-shirts. Remember, for $100 raised you get a fine, snazzy Roll & Stroll 2008 t-shirt!

Be sure to check out KAAL's morning news tomorrow at 6:10am (that's right 6:10 in the morning!) Tom will be on talking about Roll & Stroll, and giving a little background as to how type 1 impacts people.

Be sure to check out the poll. We're wondering what you enjoy the most about Roll & Stroll. You could also leave a comment at the bottom of this post if there's something else you'd like to mention besides those items in the poll. You surely can let us know what you think could be improved too!

That's it for now...

Home Stretch!

Here we go.. down the homestretch for Roll & Stroll. We're really looking forward to seeing you all Sunday. We've been keeping an eye on accuweather and it's driving us nuts! Changing constantly, we'd really be better off just waiting to see what the day brings.

Tuesday morning, tune into Y105 to hear the Roll & Stroll chat on Take 5 With Tom. This is the station Alex Morgan (co-celeb chair) comes from. Friday morning, at 6:10 am (yeow!), you can tune into KAAL to see the 'live' version of what Tom looks like at 6:10am. We know he won't have a hair out of place!

If you can't make it on Sunday, yet you'd like to donate, you can send a check made payable to JDRF Please mail it to

Roll & Stroll
c/o Tom O'Leary
805 1st Ave NW
Byron MN 55920

If you have a friend or family member who is walking, please reference their name, and we'll make sure your donation is applied to their team.

Thanks everyone.. see you soon!

T minus 1 Week!

Wow!

Wow! It's almost time to Roll & Stroll!

We keep seeing some great stuff come in... 4 excellent seats at a Twins-Tigers game are in the mix! We're gonna win Twins.... we're gonna score... we're gonna win Twins... watch that baseball soar! Knock out a home run, shout hip hip hoo-ray! Cheer for the Minnesota Twins today!

Tri-fold brochures with details of the Roll & Stroll have gone out. If you didn't get one, let us know and we'll email (or mail) you one right away! Go get those contributions and we'll see you on May 18th!

One gentle warning..... it seems there may be a Gorilla in our midst!

Here we go!

Hi all... JDRF will be sending Roll & Stroll tri-folds to all of you on the distribution in the SE Minnesota area. You can use these as a tool for communicating the event, and logging donations. If you don't receive one, or would like us to email you a copy, please drop us a note at rollandstroll@hotmail.com We'd be happy to get you one.

We've been getting great support on the volunteer front! A new group from Mayo has offered to help us out this year, we're really looking forward to meeting them all! The team from Walmart continues to deliver time and time again! Family's throughout the area keep on giving and giving!

Keep your eyes and ears on the TV and Radio these next two weeks. We have interviews scheduled on KAAL, KROC FM and Y105.... with more inquiries out for more opportunities!

Catch you later.. gotta love this time of year!

Prizes & Silent Auction Items!

Wow.. the prizes and silent auction items are coming in.. Gotta love it! There are so many things, from overnight stays, food, baskets, gift certificates, games, bicycle... good stuff, great stuff and even more great stuff!

If you have something you'd like to donate as prizes or auction items, please drop us a note at rollandstroll@hotmail.com

We're so looking forward to seeing you all again on May 18th!

Spring is here!

Wow.. what a nice couple of days! I was wondering if Spring was coming or not. We sure can hope for weather like this on May 18th!

Thanks to those of you who took the poll, that's very encouraging. Of those responding to the question, most believe a cure is within the next 10 years!

What's up? Here's a list of some of the food available on walk day... Subway sandwiches, Cheese from Pace Diary, carrots/dressing & apples/dip from Reichel Foods. I also know we're out searching for banana's (but I'm not sure if we found them yet)!

You should start seeing/hearing a presence in the media as some interviews have been set up. As the dates approach I'll post here so you can be sure to listen in.

Thanks for checking in.. and we'll see you on May 18th!

Registration Forms Are Ready!

Good morning everyone... Sure hope the snow goes away by May 18th!

Registrations forms are ready and heading to the printer on Monday. If you'd like us to email a copy to you just let us know at rollandstroll@hotmail.com Additionally, we'd be happy to drop one in the mailbox for you.

There are a lot of great video's on youtube that set various walks, fundraisers to music while sharing statistics on what it means to have type 1... giving it a very personal touch. If you're looking for fundraising ideas, you might search JDRF on youtube.com Here's a link to one of the examples, but as I say, there are many. http://youtube.com/watch?v=RsUiaHmsqRc

Another Great Week

Hey Hey! Less then 1 month to Roll & Stroll! We're so happy to have our celebrity chairs return. Jess Abrahamson from KTTC along with Alex Morgan from Y-105! These two are fantastic to have on board. Come on down and say hi!

Slider is back.. he was a big hit with the kids and adults alike last year. Wow.. do you remember the games we played last year? Volunteer Frank has a way of making sure you're all winners... I'm not sure we can contain him! Goodman productions are currently working on this year's show... there's just no end to the fun!

Sponsors keep lining up... along with our presenting sponsors of Fraser Construction and McNeilus Steele. Supporters keep coming forward. Please thank Med City Collision, Think Bank, Walmart North & Robert's Specialty... all Silver Sponsors for the event! We'll continue to list additional sponsors as we move forward.

If you've never attended Roll & Stroll, please take the time to visit. If you have, please come on back and bring some friends!

Thank You Presenting Sponsors!

I'm pleased to announce we have two great Presenting Sponsors for the 2008 Roll & Stroll! Fraser Construction and McNeilus Steel have been very generous in supporting our event, and they return as Presenting Sponsors in 2008! Thank you very much!

We have a planning meeting on Thursday 4/17 and I'll post all our sponsors after that, so you can be sure to thank them for the fantastic support!

Plans are coming together nicely. We'll start distributing registrations shortly. The media attention is being worked, posters are being printed... once again... we're in position to go get 'em!

For those who have never attended, please stop by Soldiers Field on May 18th for this great family event! No entry fee required.... but we sure would appreciate your donations! If you ever have any questions, please email us at rollandstroll@hotmail.com Thanks everyone!

Welcome to Roll & Stroll 2008!

Welcome to our Roll & Stroll!

In our first two years, we raised over $85,000 for JDRF! Plans are well underway to ensure a great 2008!

Join us Sunday, May 18th at Rochester's Soldiers Field. Registration starts at noon, with the walk, silent auction, entertainment and give-aways taking place from 1-4pm. We're so looking forward to seeing old friends, and making new ones! Come join us! If you have any questions, please feel free to post on this blog site, or send an email to rollandstroll@hotmail.com

Want to learn more about JDRF? Please visit jdrf.org

Tom