Event Recap

Catfish Classic 2010

Congratulations to our Golf Ball Drop Raffle winners!

Cortney Mansfield, Activities and Volunteer Director at Brighton Gardens Assisted Living (Raleigh, NC) organized an ALS  Fundraiser Talent Show for residents on May 20, 2010 in honor of Diane Hardison.  Cortney invited residents and members of Diane’s family to participate as talent. Diane was the red carpet guest of honor and looked beautiful with her escort, Frank Hielema, Brighton Gardens Physical Therapist. Brighton Gardens Director, Karen Sherman served as emcee. The audience included residents, employees, and visiting families.

The event started with Gretyl Kinsey’s video of Diane talking about living with ALS in her own words. Furniture was then moved aside and the floor opened up as a stage to accommodate 12 acts of live music, dance, and comedy routines. Diane’s mom , Hazel Sorrell ( age 94), did a comedy act; Diane’s  brother, Todd Sorrell joined Rocky Tutor as a vocal duo; her brother-in-law  and nephew , Tony McLamb and Zach McLamb played bluegrass music on bass and banjo;  her sister, Marilyn Kinsey  danced as Michael Jackson; and her niece, Gretyl Kinsey played the piano and sang. Other acts included residents and employees who line-danced, played the piano, and sang; a blind-folded chef act; and a resident’s granddaughter who played the piano. All performers received small trophies. Gretyl Kinsey won the grand prize for her very moving video. The talent show was enjoyed by all and raised over $500 for Diane’s Team in the 2010 Triangle Walk to Defeat ALS®.  
 

Megan Johnson, team captain of Beth's Brigade, recently raised over $4000 for the Jim "Catfish" Hunter Walk to Defeat ALS! How you ask? By auctioning off some of Wilmington's most handsome men. On Thursday July 22nd, at the beautiful 128 South in downtown Wilmington, ten eligible bachelors and one handsome gentleman recently diagnosed with ALS were auctioned off to excited women ready to support the cause and potentially meet someone special in the process.

Megan has been involved with the Chapter for many years and recently lost her grandmother to ALS. This spring, Megan and her friend Sarah passed a billboard for a Bachelor Bid on their way to a concert and started joking about how fun it would be to organize one to raise money for Megan's walk team. One week later, Megan's grandmother passed away, and Megan decided to start planning the fundraiser. "This was my first time planning anything like this" says Megan.

"I am still in shock about how well it went and am so excited to announce that 128 South has invited us back for next year already!"

Many thanks to Megan and everyone who came out to the event! ALS is a terrible disease affecting over 700 people and their families in North Carolina. But with events like this and people like Megan, we will continue leading the fight to cure and care for people with ALS.

Find out more information about the 2011 Walk Season and how you can support the Walk to Defeat ALS here in the coming weeks. Also, look out for Megan's blog entry this month on The Catfish Blog for more information on how she pulled off this amazing and unique event.

If you are interested in organizing an event or would like some help coming up with fundraising ideas for your team, please contact the Special Events Department at 877.568.4347.

A beautiful and sunny morning attracted almost 1,000 walkers and volunteers to come out to the gorgeous Tanglewood Park for the 2010 Winston-Salem Walk to Defeat ALSTM!  Everyone came out (including mini horses) to enjoy the great fellowship, food, and music from Triad Rewards.
Special Guest, June Thompson, Founder of our Chapter, gave Anna Beauchamp the June Thompson Volunteer Recognition Award for her outstanding dedication to our Chapter. Spirits were high as everyone gathered for the ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by our PALS and took off around the scenic Tanglewood Park for the 3k walk.
This year’s walk has raised $73,927.38 blowing our $50,000 goal out of the water!  We cannot thank you all enough for your efforts in helping us care for those living with ALS and helping us find a cure. If you are interested in becoming a part of the 2011 Winston-Salem Walk Planning Committee or would like to volunteer on walk day please contact Amy Sullivan at Amy@CatfishChapter.org.

TOP FUNDRAISING TEAM: Team America: Rockin for Robin
TOP FUNDRAISING CORPORATE TEAM: Westphal's Warriors
TOP INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER: Bruce Whitley
LARGEST TEAM: *TIE* between LeMay's Legacy & Team America: Rockin for Robin
MOST CREATIVE BANNER: Go MiMi
MOST CREATIVE T-SHIRT: Team America: Rockin for Robin

A special THANK YOU to our Sponsors:

The second annual Fayetteville Walk to Defeat ALS^TM took place on April 10, 2010 at Festival Park. A larger crowd than last year showed up with more than 700 walk participants and volunteers. We had the pleasure of having Mr. Al “The Van Man” Fields emcee the event once again.
The morning started off with a warm welcome from special guest, Mayor Tony Chavonne, followed by our opening ceremony featuring the Pope Air Force Honor Guard presenting the flags and arms along with Brent and Kristi Tatum singing the National Anthem.  The crowd headed to the ribbon cutting ceremony to kick off the start of the 3k walk around beautiful downtown Fayetteville.
 As the crowd returned and enjoyed food and music from Twin Spin DJ service we concluded with our Closing Awards Ceremony announcing this year’s total raised more than $40,000! Keep it up Fayetteville! If you are interested in becoming a part of the 2011 Fayetteville Walk Planning Committee or volunteering on Walk Day please contact Amy Sullivan at Amy@CatfishChapter.org

TOP FUNDRAISING TEAM: Amy's Army
TOP FUNDRAISING CORPORATE TEAM: Deep in the Heart of Texas
TOP INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER: Robert Hawkins
LARGEST TEAM: Mabel's Marchers
MOST CREATIVE BANNER: Tosti's Heroes
MOST CREATIVE T-SHIRT: Amy's Army

A special THANK YOU to our Sponsors:

A brisk and sunny morning on March 27, 2010 marked the day for the 2010 Greensboro Walk to Defeat ALS^TM.  However, the weather did not keep the largest crowd in the history of the Greensboro Walk  away. Over 950 walk participants and volunteers gathered at beautiful Center City Park in downtown Greensboro to celebrate their efforts to fight this terrible disease.
The morning festivities kept everyone’s mind off of the cool weather. Once again we were honored to have Leigh Brock of WFMY News 2 emcee the event.  In addition, walkers enjoyed live music from Floydz Circle Band, fun activities for children, and great food!
Attendance was not the only record breaker that day, to date the 2010 Greensboro Walk has raised
$118,078.78 and counting! This is the largest amount of money raised at the Greensboro Walk! Congratulations and thank you to all those who participated.
 We couldn’t have asked for a better turnout. We hope the day created a great memory for all those who attended and most importantly help spread the awareness of ALS! If you are interested in joining the 2011 Greensboro Walk Planning Committee or would like to volunteer for the walk day next year please contact Amy Sullivan at Amy@CatfishChapter.org.

TOP FUNDRAISING TEAM: Brigitte's Brigade
TOP FUNDRAISING CORPORATE TEAM: Novartis Animal Health
TOP INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER: Carol Douglas
LARGEST TEAM: Brigitte's Brigade
MOST CREATIVE BANNER: Team Roxie
MOST CREATIVE T-SHIRT: Nancy's Naughty Neurons

A special THANK YOU to our Sponsors:

The 2010 Down East Walk to Defeat ALS^TM was held on Saturday, March 27th.  With more than 600 walk day participants and volunteers. We have raised over $53,554.41- succeeding our goal of $45,000! This walk continues to prove its dedication to help fight ALS each year.
 Local support came from WCNT Sports Anchor Brian Bailey who emceed the event. We even had Mayor Patt Dunn and House of Representative Marian McLawhorn come out to share a few words and lend their support. What a great impact this small community has made in supporting those living with ALS and their families as well as supporting cutting edge global research for a cure.  Way to go Down East! If you are interested in joining the planning committee or volunteering for the walk next year, please contact Amy Sullivan at Amy@CatfishChapter.org
 

TOP FUNDRAISING TEAM: Jill's Caring Angels
TOP FUNDRAISING CORPORATE TEAM: Select Bank's Team Rex
TOP INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER: Janet Gronosky
LARGEST TEAM: Jill's Caring Angels
MOST CREATIVE BANNER: Tony's Team
MOST CREATIVE T-SHIRT: Jill's Caring Angels

A special THANK YOU to our Sponsors:

The threat of morning storms on April 24, 2010, did not deter walk participants from joining us for the Charlotte Walk to Defeat ALS^TM, raising over $170,000! Ballantyne Corporate Park was the backdrop once again for a festive day where over 1600 participants enjoyed Donato’s Pizza, hot dogs, Frito Lay chips and bread from the Great Harvest Bread Company!

A special thanks to our sponsors:

We were so honored to spend the morning of Saturday, April 17^th, walking to defeat ALS! A crowd of 600 participants and volunteers joined the festivities at the UNCW campus to assist in raising over $68,000 to help the PALS and CALS throughout the state of NC. 

 
A special thanks to our sponsors:

On the morning of April 10, 2010, the Triangle Walk to Defeat ALS^TM broke records once again this year - raising over $218,000 and still counting!!! After a record-breaking year in 2009, participants once again proved their commitment to the Chapter. In fact, over 1700 participants and volunteers were on hand to witness the fruits of their labor!  It was quite a sight!