Event of the Weekend: Team Fatty at the Seattle LiveStrong Challenge
This afternoon was the pre-ride BBQ for Team Fatty-Seattle, and tonight (Saturday) is the Recognition Dinner for the Seattle LiveStrong Challenge.
I’ll be getting photos and video from folks soon, but for now, let me just say that from the email and text messages I’ve been getting, the BBQ was terrific.
As for the Recognition Dinner, well, Team Fatty Seattle will kind of own the night. There are four awards, of which we have won three:
- Individual Champion: The person who raised the most money for the Seattle event is Team Fatty Co-Captain Steve Peterson, who comments on this blog as ClydeSteve. $41,000.00. That is just remarkable. You know what this means? It means that Steve raised more money than the entire second-place team. Yes, that’s right. Steve raised more money than the entire Microsoft team. I think my head just exploded.
- Team Champion: Team Fatty-Seattle has raised $144,000. I am just astounded at how hard everyone on Team Fatty-Seattle has worked, and how much we have raised toward fighting cancer.
- Team Messenger: Team Fatty-Seattle has close to 100 members who have raised at least $100. I’m not sure of our exact figure, but it’s more people than any other team.
I can hardly wait to see the video of Steve picking those awards up.
The only award I don’t think we won is the Individual Messenger award, which I think will go to Jimmy Fowkes. Frankly, I believe that if there’ve ever been people who deserve recognition, they’re Jimmy and his sister Molly. Go take a look at Jimmy’s donation page and see what I mean.
Since I won’t be able to be there to accept either of the Team Awards, the LiveStrong people were nice enough to ask me to make a video they could show at the dinner tonight. Here it is:
You have no idea how tired my arm got holding that camcorder at arm’s length as I filmed myself for that thing.
Here’s a great pic Jonathan S sent from the event:
At least to me, that “WIN SUSAN” card is the boldest, most visible one there. I like that.
Here’s my friend Jeff, evidently in serious need of what they’ve got at the anti-chafing zone:
More Soon
We’re also entered in the Best Jersey contest; the results of that will be announced tomorrow this (Sunday) afternoon. Fingers crossed!
I’ll update with video, photos, and riders’ impressions as I get them.
And if you were at the Seattle LiveStrong event and have pics and / or a story to tell, send them my way!
Comment by Nick | 06.20.2009 | 8:11 pm
That’s awesome! Very cool video too fatty. My Team Fatty jersey is a little snug (hopefully by August, the “Fatty” on the back will be more ironic than descriptive), but I’ll be wearing it on my group ride tomorrow morning.
Comment by The Incredible Woody | 06.20.2009 | 8:28 pm
Way to go, Team Fatty Seattle!!!
Comment by Bruce Bebow | 06.20.2009 | 8:31 pm
Great job on the video. Well done, Team Fatty Seattle.
Comment by Jamieson | 06.20.2009 | 8:35 pm
Great job with the video and editing. What a result from Steve and his fund raising.
Comment by cloud19th | 06.20.2009 | 9:24 pm
I’ve been reading your blog for YEARS (non-continuously) and finally we get to really hear your voice.
Your kindness and appreciation is evident there.
Way to rally with the fundraising, everyone.
Comment by MattC | 06.20.2009 | 9:24 pm
I’m so sad you couldn’t make it to the Seattle event Fatty. Team Seattle, my hats off to you all. I hope you have a GREAT time this weekend, which is quite well deserved. I can’t wait to see pics and hear more of the happenings. And Steve…dude…you really need to write a book about fundraising. You have single-handedly made more than our entire SJ team (so far). That just blows my mind. What IS your secret? (besides the kidnapping of children for ransom I mean).
Fatty…your video is awesome, and brings a tear to my eye. Many of us are involved in this because of YOU (and Susan of course). I’m just proud to be a part of it. Ride like the wind Team Fatty Seattle! And be safe out there!
Comment by WheelDancer | 06.20.2009 | 9:46 pm
Team Fatty Seattle has set a high bar with the shortest fund raising time. I hope ClydeSteve can share his secrets with the rest of the teams to leverage his success. Great video Eldon!
I hope the Team Fatty jersey wins but is it really true that I can’t get one any more?I was out on the Twin Six site and they seem to have only the woolies and T-shirts for Team Fatty. Tell me it isn’t so! After the better part of a year unemployed, I am back on my feet and want to get a (another perhaps…) Team Fatty jersey rolling around Mpls. while I figure out if I can pull off actually riding with one of the teams.
Win Susan!
Comment by cheapie | 06.20.2009 | 10:12 pm
good job fatty. very sincere and without fluff. really brought out the reason we’re fighting this disease and why LAF is a deserving organization for our efforts.
Comment by Mike from Melbourne | 06.20.2009 | 10:35 pm
Well said Fatty. Congratulations to Steve and Team Fatty-Seattle, you guys rock !
Comment by Andy | 06.20.2009 | 10:51 pm
Excellent. Well said.
Tomorrow, we ride!
Comment by Pinkbike | 06.20.2009 | 11:37 pm
Wonderful video, Elden. It was just what I needed to get fired up for Austin and to get going on my fundraising. Thanks to Tom I’m off to a great start on the latter!
Small group ride with good friends in the morning. I’ll be wearing my jersey for Susan.
Love and prayers to you, Susan and your beautiful kids.
Comment by Shaun Darragh | 06.20.2009 | 11:37 pm
Hi Fatty,
You’ll like the video – Steve and Scott did you proud. The dinner was great and your video was an inspiration.
You guys are amazing!
Sorry you won’t be here with us riding tomorrow!
Comment by Pinkbike | 06.20.2009 | 11:38 pm
Oh, and congratulations to Team Fatty-Seattle!!! Really awesome!!
Comment by Yukirin Boy | 06.21.2009 | 2:10 am
Awesome Team Seattle – fantastic
Comment by Linda | 06.21.2009 | 6:27 am
Great video. I can stop crying now.
WIN SUSAN!
Comment by Bjorn 4Lycra | 06.21.2009 | 7:09 am
Way to go Team Fatty Seattle. Clydesteve you are a legend. Great Video FC – proud to be associated with you guys from here in OZ and it’s just given me a kick in the bum to do a bit more.
Win Susan.
Comment by Saso | 06.21.2009 | 7:54 am
Good work Elden + Seattle Team. And a late congratulation to your birthday. All the best, keep up your great blog and great work!
Comment by Philly Jen | 06.21.2009 | 9:31 am
Okay, that totally made me cry.
Clydesteve, you’re amazing. Thanks for the best leadout ever!
@WheelDancer: Join Team Fatty Philly as a virtual participant for free. You can fundraise, and then convert to being a real, live rider prior to event day if your plans permit. (And our team co-captain grew up in the Gopher State…)
Comment by Heidi | 06.21.2009 | 11:37 am
Yup, Fatty made me cry.
Comment by Angie G | 06.21.2009 | 11:42 am
Fatty, what an awesome video. Seattle, you guys ROCK!!!
Your perseverance and Susan’s strength are a true inspiration.
Thank you for sharing this experience with all of us. You have helped us all become better people.
I am incredibly grateful.
Comment by buckythedonkey | 06.21.2009 | 11:54 am
Congrats to ClydeSteve and the Seattle mob – what an amazing achievement! Loved the video Fatty. Good luck to all the riders, I can’t wait to see the videos.
Question: is an “anti-chafe zone” the same as a “spalming zone”, or am I missing something?
WIN SUSAN!!
Comment by Joanna | 06.21.2009 | 2:00 pm
Happy Father’s Day Fatty!
What a great gift from YOU to the Seattle team.
Comment by mark | 06.21.2009 | 3:23 pm
Hey, that’s awesome that you got Stanley Tucci to play the part of Fatty in that movie. He did a great job.
Comment by Daddystyle | 06.22.2009 | 8:27 am
Congrats and THANK YOU Eldon
Ride on
Comment by Jeff in Ottawa | 06.22.2009 | 9:03 am
Congratulations Team Fatty and all of your supporters. I am humbled and inspired by your passion and effort. If possible please post a list of companies who donated/supported so that we can show them our appreciation by supporting their businesses as much as possible.
Thank you Eldon. WIN.
Comment by Clydesteve | 06.22.2009 | 9:51 am
Buckythedonkey – Yes, it is a spalming zone. The sponsor, Aquaphor had a tent with some very sincere spalming experts with Euroaccents, and everyone got a 1/4 oz or so tube of spalm that was convenient for mid-ride use.
Comment by rexinsea | 06.22.2009 | 2:00 pm
Excellent video.
Comment by PAL & DB | 06.22.2009 | 10:57 pm
We attended the Seattle Appreciation Dinner and were moved by the video and amazed by Team Fatty’s fundraising efforts. I ran the 5k in the morning and then both of us stood for three hours in our neighborhood at the 60 mile mark of the 100 mile ride cheering on Livestrong Riders. We had a “Go Team Fatty” sign. Hope that helped. Great job riders!