More action down on the farm...

    

 A lot of my preparing for this year's Bike To The Bay is Like Deja vu all over again, because all of the riders and team sponsors, all though they graciously helped me last year,  may have other commitments this year.

     I already cornered Jason, the General Manager from the Monroe St. Bob Evans, so my next stop was to meet with Matt from the Central Ave. store.

     Matt was very instrumental in our team's success last year.  Not only did he ride, wearing that cute pink shirt, but he also sold about a million of them (give or take) to raise money for our team.  He was probably the most enthusiastic one of the bunch.  And believe it or not, he actually thanked me for asking him to ride, when the privilege was all mine:) 

     He mentioned his next step was to get a serious bike because he hopes to ride further this year! He also mentioned trying to get his boss to ride as well. 

     So if Bob Evans gets super involved with Team Leapfrog this year I guess they might have to add frogs to their list of farm animals; that or they might have to change their slogan to "Bob Evans, down on the pond". Lol

Have a great weekend!!

Christine:)

Those team shirts aren't gonna buy them selves!

     Last year being the first year for Team Leapfrog, we had no idea what to expect or how to go about building it.  We were able to drum up a hand full of sponsors for our shirts, Bob Evans Monroe Street being one of them.  We then had to look for team shirts within our budget.

     I wanted to make a statement, and what better way than to make our shirts pink and covered with frogs.  I just threw the idea out there, and when the first guy said he didn't have a problem with wearing pink I knew I could convince the rest.

     The shirts were just plain pink cotton Ts but no one complained.  This year however, I decided we need to take it more serious.  No more girly pink Ts; oh yes, the frogs are staying, but we need real bike shirts and a strong color that says we mean business.

     I went into Bob Evans and Met with Jason, the general manager and asked if he was willing to sponsor our team again this year, and not only is he more than happy to help us but he plans to get his district manager, Brian involved and hopefully get all of the Bob Evans in this area to sponsor our team!

      We're working on the logistics of the shirts, but now I have to get serious about sponsors, because those shirts aren't going to buy themselves.

     So the ball is finally rolling and we're on our way!  No more girly pink but you haven't seen the last of my cute pink frog:)  I'll keep you posted!

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

        So we still don't have final numbers for the Bob Evans fund raiser but I do know that last month we raised around 175.00 and we beat that this month.  So far the unofficial number is around 250.00.  It isn't a million dollars, but considering people only had to eat and let Bob Evans make the donation, we're not complaining.  It can only get better next month!!

     We have three more opportunities to raise more so please help us on the next one, which is May 21st.

Thanks Bob Evans for helping us out!!

Have a great weekend!!

Christine:)

Thank you everyone that helped us with our second Bob Evans fundraiser!!

    Thank you so much for helping us with our second Bob Evans fundraiser!!  Of course I had to make my way over there for Breakfast, lunch and dinner once again.  I'm starting to think I may want to invest in Bob Evans stock:)

     Every little bit helps, so if you were able to make it over there Wednesday, know we really appreciate it.  And keep in mind we'll have another Bob Evans fundraiser on May 21st, so mark your calendars again and please help us out!!

     As I mentioned, my goal is to see my team raise 25,00.00 in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Bike To The Bay, and I know with all the caring people in this community we can do it!!

Thank you so much!!

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

*CHECK OUT THE NEWS VIDEO ON ABC NEWS:)

Don't forget the second Bob Evans fundraiser is today!!

     Come on, all of the Bob Evans Managers have been great in helping us raise money for our cause, including riding on our team as well, so we need to thank them by visiting their restaurants today and help us raise more money for Team Leapfrog and Team sitting Bull at the same time.

     Who Knows, by the third fundraiser we may have our cute pink Team leapfrog shirts in and you just may catch these guys wearing them:)

       Remember, breakfast lunch or dinner, all ten area Bob Evans will give 15% percent of sales to our two teams if you show them the flyer or mention Team Leapfrog or Team Sitting bull.  Please help us!!

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

*CHECK OUT 13 ABC NEWS AND SEE THE INTERVIEW ABOUT THE BTTB!!

Curiosity may kill the cat but it also gets me potential riders:)

     

     I told you I didn't get all of my team members by my looks; and yes, I do my share of going after my target.  But  in this case it may have been a "look" that drummed up the interest of my next potential rider.

     I was at Bob Evans Restaurant on Monroe Street Saturday morning with my mom and friends, as I do every week, and it was a busy Saturday; places to go and people to see... so as I was scrambling out the door (and remember my mind wants to move faster than my crazy leg) another one of the managers Jeff Montreuil, whom I hadn't yet had a chance to corner, asked me what I did (you know, the limp...).  In a hurried fashion I said "Nerve damage, MS:)" and was going to keep moving.  But then I backed up and said "Hey...! ya know the fundraiser you guys are doing for the Bike To The Bay??"  He said " yes".  I said "Well that's me!! Ya wanna ride??"  And he too said he was totally interested!  He mentioned asking others to ride as well! 

    How I missed this prospect for so long is beyond me, but he's in my web now!  I and if he joins my team and brings others on board too, this could be awesome!! Lets hope it works out for Jeff:)

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

     

We're finally getting the media coverage

    

      I mentioned a while back that Joe Nugent, the sports caster for ABC news was going to do a story about my team, as well as the fundraisers with Bob Evans restaurants.  Well we finally nailed down a date.

     We'll tape it on Friday, April 18th and the piece will air on Monday April 21st, two days before the next fundraiser which is Wednesday, April 23rd.  My hope is to be able to tell him we're close to, or at our goal of 50 team members. How awesome would that be?!?!  The team is really growing but there are a lot of people still interested in joining our team that haven't signed up yet.  If anyone knows of someone who's interested, please ask them to sign up so we can have a big number by the time we shoot the story:)

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

We have a date for the next Bob Evans fundraiser

     Now that our first Bob Evans fundraiser was behind us it was time to get more serious and make the next one huge.  

     Jason, the General Manager from the Monroe Street Bob Evans and I got together to work out the details.  As you can see, Jason had his pink dress shirt on, and you might think it was just random but I'd like to think it was in honor of my obsession for the color pink!  Okay maybe that's a stretch...

        We decided it might be best to try to be consistent with the dates of the future fundraisers and the third Wednesday of the month seemed as good as any.  So the next day will be Wednesday, April 23rd; be sure to mark your calendars!  

     This time since we have some of the ground work done we can actually focus on publicizing the event better.  We've been talking with Joe Nugent from the local news and now we just have to coordinate a day and time for the Managers from Bob Evans and I to meet with him.  When we have a date we'll let you know:)

Have a great weekend!!

Christine:) 

     

Thanks for supporting us in our first Bob Evans fund raiser!

    

    Well we finally have the first Bob Evans fundraiser under our belt and after going there three times yesterday I just may have to buy myself a bigger one! (a belt, that is) Lol.

     First I went with my mom, my sister and three friends ( one left before the picture).  I was considering bringing my PJs and sleeping bag, then just camping out.  But after some thought I decided against it.  Of course by the time we were finished and I had done a little soliciting it was almost lunch time, so in hind sight I should have camped out.

        Next I had lunch with my Bike to the Bay peeps, where I ran into a few more people who were there because of my emails. After that I did leave for a while, but not for long because you know there's also dinner, so I went back with my daughter Emily and her family.  It's a tough job but somebody has to do it:)

     I am forever grateful to all of you that came out to show your support!  I know the next one will be even bigger!  The timing of the general managers vacations made the news coverage impossible for this one but we have plenty of time to promote the next one so be sure to watch for a few of the general managers from Bob Evans and myself on the local news with Joe Nugent.  I'll let you know on the date as soon as we finally pin one down.  Also, watch for details on the next fundraiser held in April.  Just remember... You have to eat anyway;)

Have a great weekend!!

Christine:)

Another Bob Evans General Manager on my team... WHAT?!?!

   

  So I simply went into the Bob Evans on Central avenue to drop off a T-shirt flyer to add to the Bob Evans fundraiser flyer they already had, and to see if the General Manager might be available to join us at the news media event, but would you believe, the GM Matt Wienner said he wants to ride too?!?!  Not only does he want to ride but he plans to ask his wife and several others there as well.  How cool is this?!?!

     What I've discovered through all of this is there are a lot of people who would love to help out someway, but they just needed someone to invite them to do it.

     I told you our team would make it to 50 riders so I have some more work ahead of me, but don't you worry; My job's not done:)

Have a great day!!

Christine:)
Don't forget to dine at Bob Evans this Wednesday, March 19th, and bring in a flyer or mention us and 15% of the sales will go to Team Leapfrog and Team Sitting Bull!!

More awesome news!!

   

  It just keeps getting better!  Reeves talked to Joe Nugent from ABC news and Joe said he wants to interview Jason, the general manager from Bob Evans and me about our fundraiser!! How cool is that?!?!  he also wants to wants to shoot some footage of me training for the ride.  Right now with the cold weather I ride the stationary bike about 14 miles three days a week at DMC Technology where I work part time, so that's where we'll be.

     To think early fall I was lucky to make it eight miles with out dropping dead from exhaustion, and now 14...  of course my legs are numb and feel like jello when I'm done so this should be interesting on the ride, but it's all for the cause and where there's a will there's a way!!

     I'll keep you posted on when it will air and after that I'll be available for autographs! Lol.  Who knows, some day you may be saying "I knew her way back when!" A girl can dream can't she:)

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

     

Our first fundraiser with Bob Evans! Mark your calender!!

        I told you I don't give up!!  We finally have a date for our first fundraiser with Bob Evans!  We all sat down and worked out the details and the first one will be on Wednesday, March 19th, from morning until night.

      Mark your calenders and spread the word! 15% of the sales will be given to Team Leapfrog and Team Sitting Bull.  Even without the flyer just mention us and you help us out.  I mean, you have to eat anyway, right??! We're working on the flyer now, so it'll be out soon.  Are we good or what?!?!

     Jason, the general manager of the Monroe street Bob Evans Rocks!!! First he's going to be a sponsor on our team shirts, then he sets up this fundraiser for us and now he's going to get all 13 locations to participate as well!!  But wait... it gets better... I am this close (imagine my thumb and finger about a half an inch apart) to getting him to ride in the BTTB on Team Leapfrog!  What do you think... can I do it!?!? Just watch me!  A pink shirt with frogs will soon be a part of his wardrobe, mark my word;)

   

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

Time to talk about those fundraisers with Bob Evans

   

       So next on my agenda was to meet again with Jason, the General Manager of Bob Evans Restaurant on Monroe street, and talk about these fundraisers.  We decided if we were going to do this we may as well make it big.  Now we hope to have a meeting with some of the other managers from other locations and get them on board.  

     Of course since my big brother team "Team Sitting Bull" helped get "team leapfrog" off and rolling it's only right that they be a part of this as well.  This will be huge!!  If Reeves has his team e-mail blast and then my team e-mail blasts flyers along with Bob Evans promoting it, we can raise a lot of money for our teams!  So now our teams join forces!

We're already mistaken for twins:)

     Reeves and I will be getting in contact soon with the managers from Bob Evans to talk about which day of each month until the ride to hold our fundraisers. The people who dine at Bob Evans on behalf of Team Leapfrog or Team Sitting Bull those days will help raise money for our teams, because a portion of the proceeds will be kicked back to us for the MS Society.

Watch for details and help us team up With Bob Evans to make this 25th anniversary huge!!

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

Please sponsor us!!
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Our first official team sponsor! Thanks Bob Evans:)

     Well, going to Bob Evans restaurant every Saturday morning for the past 5 or 6 years has really paid off!  Not only do they have great food but the staff there are the most awesome people you will ever meet!

     As a rule I always get there earlier than the rest of my friends because it's a great way to drink coffee and write my posts for this blog.  The problem however, was that the internet service was hit or miss from week to week and it was sometimes frustrating not being able to  connect.

     One Saturday I saw the general manager, Jason, doing paperwork at a table and I thought I would ask him what the secret was to getting the WiFi to co operate.  He said they had been having problems with the connection on a corporate level.  I was mentioning I usually try to write my blog for the bike to the bay while waiting for my friends (and of course I had to tell him the whole story because this just might be one more opportunity to raise money for our team).  I made sure to inquire about the possibility of Bob Evans sponsoring us.

      After our brief (okay... lengthy) conversation I asked him if there was any way of getting corporate to make an attempt to fix the WiFi for future visits, even if he had to blame it on getting this pesky lady off his back.  He said he would make sure to tell them.

     The next week like clock work the internet was running smoothly so I was back in business.  I saw Jason doing paper work again and went over to thank him for helping me.  While I was at it I reminded him of our previous conversation and mentioned my team was up and running now.  Then I asked him if he would be interested in sponsoring our team and their name would be on our shirts.  He said absolutely!  

     So it's official!!  Bob Evans Restaurant is the first of hopefully many tee shirt sponsors for our team.  Jason and I are also going to get together again to discuss other fundraising ideas with Bob Evans between now and the ride.  Stay tuned:)

Have a great weekend!!

Christine:)

Please sponsor Team Leapfrog! 
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