Homecoming - and a big thank you!

May 10th, 2009

Thanks to everyone who braved the weather last night and came out to celebrate Nikki & Holly and the C4C crew’s return!

The banner welcoming Holly & Nikki home.

The banner welcoming Holly & Nikki home.


The Blue Knights escort the Cruisin' for a Cause team back to Market Square for the Homecoming celebration.

The Blue Knights escort the Cruisin' for a Cause team back to Market Square for the Homecoming celebration.


Holly & Nikki greet the homecoming crowd.

Holly & Nikki greet the homecoming crowd.


The crowd welcomes the C4C crew home.

The crowd welcomes the C4C crew home.

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The Wild Bunch film We had a great time and had some rockin’ music from SellersWray. The kids enjoyed some hoops games, we had some good food, some cool auction items and lots of fun. Most importantly, we continued to raise money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer.

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FedEx Office presents a $40,000 check to Champions for a Cause.

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Regal Entertainment Group gives $10,000 to Champions for a Cause.


Xinergy Corp presents $8,000 check to Champions for a Cause. We can't do anything without our generous sponsors.

Xinergy Corp presents $8,000 check to Champions for a Cause. We can't do anything without our generous sponsors.

We also showed a highlight reel from our trip to New Orleans which is now up on YouTube. You can check it out here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDJSzIpV18I

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Good morning from Birmingham! Today we make our way back to Knoxville and tonight’s BIG welcome home party on Market Square from 6-10p.m. Think of it as sort of like “Sundown in the City”, except with motorcycles! We’ll have food, fun, souvenirs, a live auction, and entertainment by national recording artists SellersWray. It’s free and everyone is welcome! Come out and meet Nikki & Holly and let’s welcome the C4C crew home after their 1500 mile trip to raise money and awareness for breast cancer!

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Day Five – The Crescent City

May 9th, 2009

 

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new-orleans-signToday was the big day. We got into New Orleans around 6 the night before and made a fairly early evening of it (comparatively speaking of course) so we’d be ready to go. Nikki & Holly were special guests of New Orleans Inaugural Bike Week, so the folks there went out of their way to make us feel welcome. They had arranged for us to have a Champions for a Cause booth at the Bike Show at the Convention Center, so some C4C crew got up super early (6 a.m.!) to load up stuff to take over there. Meanwhile, the bikers and crew were getting ready to appear in the bike parade at nine, so they were cleaning their bikes and such. Once the booth was set up, we all regrouped and headed over to Basin Street Station to meet our hosts. Larry Oliphant was very excited to have us, and we also met MJ Reynolds, who was instrumental in hooking us up with the bike week stuff.  Everyone was so nice to us and excited about our cause.

New Orleans Bike Week Parade. Jay Allen is in front with his buddy, we are the group behind them. Then there's everyone else waaaaaay back there.

New Orleans Bike Week Parade. Jay Allen is in front with his buddy, we are the group behind them. Then there's everyone else waaaaaay back there.

Sherry and Renee thought to get us pink beads to throw out at the parade to passersby. Everyone put on the beads and was ready to rock. Holly & Nikki did a few interviews with local TV and press explaining their charity, and also got to meet Jay Allen, who owns the Broken Spoke, which is a legendary biker bar in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Holly & Nikki with Jay Allen, owner of the Broken Spoke in Sturgis, SD.

Holly & Nikki with Jay Allen, owner of the Broken Spoke in Sturgis, SD.

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We also got to hang out with the legendary Budweiser Clydesdales who were going to lead the parade.

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How many folks get *this* view of the Clydesdales?

How many folks get *this* view of the Clydesdales?

Backdraft trailer Those horses are so magnificent! Just big, strong and beautiful animals. So the line up was the Clydesdales, Jay Allen and then our crew – and then everyone else. The parade meandered through downtown New Orleans - and we are sure we spotted former NBA star Dennis Rodman watching the parade. He *was* in town for the Gumball 3000 rally, so it’s a possibility. Take a look at the pic and see if you don’t think it’s him.

That is the former Mr. Carmen Electra. Check out his tattoos and such.

That is the former Mr. Carmen Electra. Check out his tattoos and such.

The parade ended up in front of the convention center – and across the street from the Bike Week festivities. The gang then went into the tents and checked out the vendors and attractions, one of which was the Wall of Death. The Wall of Death is basically a tall barrel type thing where several crazy dudes ride motorcycles inside it. The really crazy thing is, they ride them right up onto the wall.

The Wall of Death. These guys are nuts.

The Wall of Death. These guys are nuts.

They start with a go kart, then a small Harley Davidson, working their way up to a 1928 Indian motorcycle. Then they do dueling bikes, riding two bikes in the barrel at once. One of the coolest things they do is when they take tips from the audience. Fans fold a bill lengthwise and hold it out – and the crazy riders drive by and take it out of their hands!

The crazy dudes of the Wall of Death. They were actually very sweet, don't let 'em fool you.

The crazy dudes of the Wall of Death. They were actually very sweet, don't let 'em fool you.

Everyone had a bit of down time for lunch, then we headed to the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans. This would prove to be a highlight of the trip. Holly & Nikki brought photos to sign, miniature basketballs, pink beads, adidas rubber bracelets, pens, keychains and all kinds of goodies for the kids. The kids were fascinated by the big shiny bikes, and more than a few ventured over to honk the horns, sit on the bikes, and ask lots of questions. Many of these children are very sick, so even if for a little while we were able to lift their spirits, it was all worthwhile.

Nikki gets a hug from Children's Hospital patient Jordan.

Nikki gets a hug from Children's Hospital patient Jordan.


Nikki & Holly pose for photos with a patient from Children's Hospital.

Nikki & Holly pose for photos with a patient from Children's Hospital.

Chad and Tim let one of the kids honk the bike horn.

Chad and Tim let one of the kids honk the bike horn.

Nikki and Holly were both touched by the children, and more than one C4Cer shed a tear. The kids had a great time and the staff there couldn’t have been nicer. We enjoyed the visit very much – maybe more than the children did!

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Everyone had a bit of free time to explore New Orleans – the French Quarter, the Garden District, and we even saw some of the hardest hit areas from Hurricane Katrina, in particular the Lower Ninth Ward. That’s the area of town where one of the levees broke and flooded it so badly that even a barge came through the levee and into the neighborhood.

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The wall on the right is the one that broke and flooded the Lower Ninth Ward.

The wall on the right is the one that broke and flooded the Lower Ninth Ward.

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Needless to say, there were so many homes lost in that ward, and so many in disrepair. This is the area where Brad Pitt is doing his Make it Right Foundation Project.

The Make It Right Foundation sign, the organization started by actor Brad Pitt.

The Make It Right Foundation sign, the organization started by actor Brad Pitt.

Pitt is an architecture buff, and you can see those influences in the design of the new homes being built by his group.

One of the Make It Right Foundation's homes.

One of the Make It Right Foundation's homes.


Another of the Make It Right Foundation's homes.

Another of the Make It Right Foundation's homes.

Many of the homes are being built just beyond the levee. To find out more about this project, go to http://www.makeitrightnola.org. Although there are still many signs of devastation in New Orleans, the city is vibrant and resilient. 

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We wrapped up the visit to New Orleans with dinner at Carmelo’s. This New Orleans institution serves some of the best Italian in the city. They had a private room for us, and it was really nice because this was a chance to recall the day’s events. In fact, each person talked about what their favorite moment of the trip was so far. There were a lot of laughs, as well as some serious moments too. Many people recounted why it is that they are on this trip, as so many of us have been personally touched by breast cancer. It was a really nice evening and a perfect way to cap off a successful trip to the Crescent City.

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Day Four - Let's go to New Orleans!

May 8th, 2009

Day Four into the trip started in Jackson, MS and a trip to the Harley Davidson dealership to get Holly a radio for her bike.  All of the riders have CB radios, along with the RV and the chase car, so they can communicate on the road and stay safe. Once that was taken care of, the C4C crew took off for the final  leg of the Natchez Trace. No matter how many times it’s said, it can’t be emphasized enough how pretty  the route is. We had high hopes for a sunny day, since we really hadn’t had one yet. We knew we would be passing through the town of Natchez and had hopes of stopping to see some of the old Antebellum homes if we made good time. Our hopes were dashed about 30 miles down the road when clouds rolled in and it started sprinkling. We’d have to see what Mother Nature had to say about our side trip. 

Is the Natchez Trace pretty or what? Plan a trip now!

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Man on Wire divx The Trace is known for its beauty and winding roads, and not for its wireless service. That posed another issue for us. We’ve had a lot of fans watching our journey live on our dashboard webcam. It’s been a lot of fun, because when we stop for gas, the crew starts calling home and telling family & friends to pull it up and then they jump in front of it, wave, and hold up signs with funny sayings. Its also been great because when there have been major storms, loved ones can see that the crew is safe in the downpours. But today, it wasn’t gonna happen. Karen, the multimedia person, tried all day to get air cards functioning, webpages loaded, and the webcam up. But with 10 percent cell power, we weren’t able to get the live stream going. (Pssst – if you want to see it, go here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/champions-for-a-cause)

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This is our live streaming dashboard mounted webcam. We did have a snazzy little camera mounted to the windshield, but it stopped functioning, so we came up with Plan B - tape a laptop to the dashboard so the show can go on. Stand by Me trailer

This is our live streaming RV dashboard mounted webcam. We did have a snazzy little camera mounted to the windshield, but it stopped functioning, so we came up with Plan B - tape a laptop to the dashboard so the show can go on.

Finally, we gave up on the webcam until we got closer to New Orleans and had better wireless service. It was just as well, because we had bigger things to worry about – the rain was back. In fact, mid afternoon, it got so bad that the riders could barely see, so we pulled off at a gas station to play it safe. Besides raising awareness for breast cancer, our top goal is to keep everyone safe. That’s what Chad and Tim, the ride leaders, and Andy, who brings up the rear, do for the bikers. The chase car, (it’s the white convertible seen in the webcam) is piloted by Sherry and Renee and stays right behind the bikers so cars can’t get in between them. Then Big Bertha, the RV, is driven by Traci, with her co-pilot Beth. The 40 foot RV hauls a 14 foot trailer with spare parts, bikes, our goodies (t-shirts, hats, etc. that we sell at events) and our luggage. 

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We waited about a half hour for the rain to clear and despite the weather we were still making pretty good time, so we decided to check out the Antebellum homes in Natchez. Chad and Sherry mapped the route and we took off. They also figured we could stop at the Mississippi River so the group could see it and take a crew photo.

Group photo at the Natchez-Vidalia bridge in Natchez, MS.

Group photo at the Natchez-Vidalia bridge in Natchez, MS.

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Winding our way to downtown Natchez was cool – seeing the old historic homes was a real treat, since the town has been there since 1716 and it’s bordered by the Mississippi and has the Natchez-Vidalia bridge. We got a quick photo and then climbed back on the bikes, so we could get to New Orleans before rush hour. 

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We swept through Baton Rouge for gas and one last stop before getting to the Big Easy. (We saw some Gumball 3000 rally cars on the interstate right around here. More on that here: http://www.gumball3000.com/RALLY)

Passing through Baton Rouge and being passed by the Gumball 3000 rally.

Passing through Baton Rouge and being passed by the Gumball 3000 rally.

We didn’t want any distractions because it’s really stressful for all involved when we get into a lot of traffic. Again, we have to keep the bikers safe, so paying attention to our surroundings is number one. Plus, we wanted to be able to actually “see” New Orleans as we came into it. And what a sight – we were bordered by water and approached the city under a hazy late afternoon sun as the Crescent City rolled up under us. 

Parts of the city are still under construction, which includes some of the roads, so after a brief mixup in navigation, we were all reunited at the hotel. We got everyone checked in, and we all went to to a really nice dinner at Mulate’s, which serves authentic Cajun food. We had a lot of story telling and laughs and left with full bellies. After confirming the details of Thursday’s schedule, we walked back to the hotel and turned in for the night. Tomorrow was the main event.

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Day Three

May 7th, 2009

Taking Chance psp We woke up in Tupelo, MS and the day’s goal was to get to Jackson, MS – about 190 miles. We didn’t have any events scheduled, so we slept in a little, then the gang hit Waffle House. (What? Like you don’t love some scattered, smothered, and covered too.) After everyone enjoyed their breakfast, we saddled up and headed back to the Natchez Trace to continue our journey.

One of the most beautiful routes in America.

One of the most beautiful routes in America.


Just like the Johnny Cash/June Carter song, we're goin' to Jackson.

Just like the Johnny Cash/June Carter song, we're goin' to Jackson.

The Trace is one of the prettiest routes you’ll ever see, and today was probably the first day the C4C crew could truly enjoy it, because we didn’t have any rain! So we rolled on down the Trace uneventful for a couple of hours, just enjoying the scenery. We decided to stop for lunch in a town whose name we couldn’t pronounce (you look at the sign and see if you can figure it out) and have a picnic.

How do you pronounce this name?

How do you pronounce this name?

We rolled down a shady lane and around a bend until we saw a body of water. The most perfect picnic spot ever. So we got all of the sandwich fixins out of Big Bertha (the RV) and had a beautiful lunch by the water.

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The picnic spot along the Natchez Trace.

The picnic spot along the Natchez Trace.

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The C4C crew enjoys lunch by the water.

The C4C crew enjoys lunch by the water.

During the after lunch cleanup, there were some bikers and crew in the RV, and there was a little bit of horsing around as usual. Holly had her Tiny Elvis figurine she bought in Tupelo at Elvis’ birthplace and was showing it off. No one is sure what happened next – but Tiny Elvis took a dive – onto the ceramic tile floor – and shattered into a few pieces. So the King was dead – again. Holly was distraught and blamed Chad, one of the pack leaders.

Chad, the King Killer.

Chad, the King Killer.

Chad felt bad all day knowing Holly’s co-pilot was gone. Sherry, who’s the Jill of all Trades on the ride, came to the rescue with some Mighty Mend, so she put Elvis back together again.

Elvis on the mend - notice the wound on the inside of his elbow.

Elvis on the mend - notice the wound on the inside of his elbow.

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So they did.

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With the trailer off, Traci was able to turn the RV around…but we still had to get the trailer back on it. So it took everyone on the trip and all hands on deck to try and lift the trailer to angle it so we could connect it back onto the RV. This trailer has all of the spare parts, a bike, all of our luggage, and the t-shirts, hats, and banners and such in it. In short, IT WEIGHS A TON. So everyone readied themselves, took a deep breath, and MOVED THAT TRAILER. But…it wasn’t enough. So they did it again. And again. And finally, it was aligned so that we could hook it back up to the motor home. There was much sweating and celebration that followed.

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Traci tries to get Big Bertha turned around and back on the road again.

Traci tries to get Big Bertha turned around and back on the road again.

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The rest of the ride was uneventful (thank goodness) and we wheeled into our hotel in Jackson, MS around 6 p.m. We all checked into our rooms, pulled out the chairs and plopped down by the RV to unwind a little bit.

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Cinco de Mayo at the RV. We're wild and crazy!

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It was Cinco de Mayo after all, so we all wanted to go out and have Mexican. But Mother Nature had other ideas, and a scary thunderstorm rolled through and it rained sideways forever! Pizza was ordered instead and Holly deejayed while we all hung out together in the RV til it was time to go to bed. New Orleans is next!

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May 5th, 2009

Of course, we started Day Two with rain. We should have asked the Weather Channel to be a sponsor at this point, but we were determined to have a great day. We left the hotel to head to Pilot to gas up before the 170 mile ride. As we were doing so, we noticed there was a constant beeeeeeeeep sound in Big Bertha, the RV. Well, no one wants to take a 40 foot mobile home pulling a 14 foot trailer down a scenic highway if there could be a potential problem – you know, since there’s no where to stop in case of emergency. So we dialed around and found a place to service the RV – but the riders had to go ahead and stay on schedule. So we left Big Bertha behind – which means no one could see our webcam shot all day, since its mounted to the dash.

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Scenery on the Natchez Trace

Scenery on the Natchez Trace

The bikers and chase car took off down the Natchez Trace – in the rain (imagine that.) But the route was gorgeous – lush and green and curvy – just like the cyclists like it. So the ride was uneventful save for occasional rain showers. We rode for about three hours, checking progress on Big Bertha and Traci (you’ve never seen someone drive an RV like this lady) and Beth, her co-pilot. They got into repairs pretty quickly and were going to take the interstate later to catch up with us in Tupelo.

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The crew stopped for a break at the Wayne County Visitors Center in Collinwood, Tennessee. The folks in Collinwood knew all about the trip from hearing about it in the news and warmly greeted Holly, Nikki and the C4C gang.

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Nikki & Holly and the fine folks of Collinwood Hardware.

Nikki & Holly and the fine folks Roger, Anita & Holly of Collinwood Hardware.

The gang at Collinwood Hardware came over to say hello, and we got a surprise visitor – Madonna Thompson, the former Alabama basketball star (1992-1995.) In fact, she played against Nikki in college – and she’s now the head women’s basketball coach at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa. She’s from Collinwood and was visiting her grandmothers, both of whom volunteer at the center. Her maternal grandmother, Clara Nell Berry (now Duesterhoeft) was a basketball star at Collinwood High School, where she played forward for four years. Madonna stopped by to bring her a photo of Clara Nell and her high school team from 1945! Nikki & Holly swapped basketball stories with two generations of basketball players from the same family. That was a pretty cool stop.

Holly, Madonna Thompson, Clara Nell Duesterhoeft and Nikki. Clara's holding a picture of her high school basketball team from 1945!

Holly, Madonna Thompson, Clara Nell Duesterhoeft and Nikki. Clara's holding a picture of her high school basketball team from 1945!


The C4C Crew crosses the state line into Mississippi.

The C4C Crew crosses the state line into Mississippi.

After gassing up, we headed back down the Natchez Trace to Tupelo. Holly was excited to get there, because she wanted to check out the birthplace of Elvis. So we rolled into town around 4, checked into our hotel, and rested for a bit. Then we headed over to Elvis’ birthplace to see the tiny home where he was born. We bought tickets for four dollars (!!!! - have you been to Graceland? That’s a deal!) so we could tour the home. We went in, and well, the tour didn’t last long, since it’s a two room house, and Elvis was born in the front room and the back room was basically a kitchen. But it was cool to see and the folks there were so nice. We of course has to check out the gift shop too – which incidentally, is about six times bigger than where Elvis was born. Holly got a Tiny Elvis (remember that Saturday Night Live skit? ) and she planned to put him on her bike on the trip from Tupelo to Jackson, MS. All in all, it was a very cool experience.

This one is pretty self explanatory.

This one is pretty self explanatory. The tiny two room home where Elvis was born.


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Getting a look inside of Elvis' birthplace.

Getting a look inside of Elvis' birthplace.


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Holly's Tiny Elvis in the room where the real Elvis was born.

Holly's Tiny Elvis in the room where the real Elvis was born.

We checked in on Big Bertha’s progress and the ladies weren’t too far behind us at the point. We headed out to find something to eat, where we had a large semi-family style dinner at Vanelli’s. Greek – Italian food and it was sooo good. Then as we usually do, we headed back to the hotel where we would up the night hanging out on the RV and swapping stories from the day. Holly even got a special visit from an old pal, Michael Beaumont, who’s currently the Director of Football Operations for Ole Miss. He and Holly go way back to when Michael was living in Knoxville and just getting started. It was a great day for us and it’s only Day Two. Now let’s hope for some sun for a change tomorrow.

Michael Beaumont and his old friend Holly.

Michael Beaumont and his old friend Holly.

On the Road Again, part three

May 4th, 2009

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The Cruisin’ team got an early start on the third annual ride as we gathered to pack the motor home with our luggage and equipment before setting out towards downtown Knoxville. The Knoxville Police Department helped us tremendously, as they were gracious enough to block off a lane of downtown Gay Street in front of the Tennessee Theater. This was really important, as Nikki & Holly were part of the “Night of a 1000 Stories” celebration for Coach Pat Summitt held there. And we were on a schedule – we’d be leaving right when they finished, because we had to be in Nashville at 7 for an event.

Holly & Nikki get ready to leave on the third annual "Cruisin' for a Cause" after the "Day of 1000 Stories" Celebration at the Tennessee Theatre. L to R Jackie Ansley, Holly, Beth Bass, CEO of the WCBA, and Nikki.

Holly & Nikki get ready to leave on the third annual "Cruisin' for a Cause" after the "Day of 1000 Stories" Celebration at the Tennessee Theatre. L to R Jackie Ansley, Holly, Beth Bass, CEO of the WCBA, and Nikki.

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But what would this year’s events be without a little rain – we either needed to build an ark or get our own Doppler radar for the motorhome at this point – but seeing the bikes lined up waiting to depart got us fired up to hit the road. Fans started milling around waiting for Nikki & Holly to finish the program and to check out the bikes. Then Holly & Nikki came out – in all of their riding gear – ready to ride. They mingled with friends and family, took some photos with fans and did media interviews previewing the ride. Then the moment we’ve all worked on so hard for so many months was upon us – the gang started the bikes as Captain Bernie Lyons and the Tango Squad from the Knox County Sheriff’s Department took us under their guidance with a full police escort out of downtown and onto the interstate to start our journey…in a pouring rainstorm.

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Headed West on I-40. I think we just passed an ark.

Headed West on I-40. I think we just passed an ark.

The C4C gang weathered some scary looking storms and managed the 177 mile trek without incident – and the live streaming webcam we had mounted onboard (you can see it during the day when we’re riding at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/champions-for-a-cause) reassured the riders’ families & friends that all was well – but wet.

Even with a bit of a late start and the inclement weather, we still managed to make great time and we arrived to the Hard Rock Cafe in Nashville right on time (thank goodness we gained an hour!) Christina Sheer and her staff there arranged for a great event for us – we got to meet & greet fans and hang out, have a great meal, enjoy some fun and raffle off some cool items. Nikki & Holly started an impromptu auction over a really cool signed poster of WNBA and former Lady Vol star Candace Parker. They ended up auctioning off two posters instead of one, so we were able to raise quite a bit of money for breast cancer awareness. We had some great media coverage too – which we’re really grateful for, since it helps us get the word out about our mission. WSMV-TV and Fox17 both chatted with Nikki & Holly about our cause.

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UCLA Head Women’s Basketball Coach Nikki Caldwell talks to WSMV-TV, Nashville

UCLA Head Women’s Basketball Coach Nikki Caldwell talks to WSMV-TV, Nashville

We wrapped up about 11p.m. and headed to the hotel. Once everyone got settled, then we all ended up in the Official C4C RV for an impromptu dance party. Nikki currently holds the distinction for Coolest iPod (thanks to her deejay friend in Miami that hooked her up) so we plugged in it and started dancing. Although everyone was exhausted from the day’s events, it was a fun way to blow off some steam and cap off a long and busy day.

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%$#@ !

May 2nd, 2009

For after all, the best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain. — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

After today, I think all of the crew at C4C knows what Longfellow meant. On Friday, we had our kickoff event known as b3, which stands for bikes, basketball, and breast cancer.It’s a really nice event that sets the tone for the Cruisin’ weekend, with great food & drink (thanks to our friends at Bistro by the Tracks, who always take care of us) an auction, great live music (this year by Jimmy Logston) and just a great party atmosphere at the gorgeous home of Mr. Eddie Mannis.

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For those of you that came to last year’s b3, then you know that we had a HUGE downpour - right in the middle of the party.

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Oh look, it's our arch enemy, rain.

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 Everyone scrambled to get everything under cover, and the party went right on. Well, we were confident that history wouldn’t repeat itself, but Mother Nature had other ideas. We were forward thinking enough to get a large tent to accommodate the crowd in case of bad weather, but we were hoping we wouldn’t need it. Things were looking pretty good…until about an hour into the party, when LOUD double thunderclaps scared the %$#@ out of everyone and then the torrential downpour came. At least THIS time we were ready for it. We still managed to party on, raise a bunch of cash for our cause, and have a great time.

The party under the tent at b3.

The party under the tent at b3.

Then came Saturday with high hopes for a great TaTa Tour. This is the day ride we do around Knoxville for those of you who ride but can’t take a week off of work and travel a bunch of miles on the Cruisin’ ride. We planned to leave Wild Wings Cafe in Farragut at 3:45 - ride around town, with a stop at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame for a cool photo op, and then come back to Wild Wings at 6 p.m., where owner Dave McFarland arranged for an awesome after ride party.

Then the rain came.

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We know how much everyone wanted to do the ride, in fact, Nikki and Holly say it’s a favorite event because they get to ride with so many of their fans and then hang out with them. We checked, double checked, and triple checked the Doppler radar, and wouldn’t you know it, there was more %$#@ rain headed our way. And lots of it. We felt like we needed to err on the side of caution, so the difficult decision was made to cancel the TaTa Tour.

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Nikki & Holly at the TaTa Tour after party. They are so ready to ride!

Nikki & Holly at the TaTa Tour after party. They are so ready to ride!

 

We'd be nothing without these folks - the Blue Knights. They take care of us when it's time to ride.

We'd be nothing without these folks - the Blue Knights. They take care of us when it's time to ride.

The good news was that we’d go ahead with the after party. So everyone stayed safe and dry - and just came to hang out, enjoy some great wings, cold beverages, some live music, and a raffle (who got the last Pat Summitt bobblehead?) Nikki and Holly even got on stage and sang. We had a great time and had lots of fun despite the %$#@ rain.

Champions for a Cause kicks off!

May 1st, 2009
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3451390236_8070fb1b2bHey everyone!

Welcome to the Champions for a Cause official blog!

If you haven’t heard of Champions for a Cause (and we all like to give it the shorthand nickname of C4C) let me tell you about it.

Lady Vol Associate Head Basketball Coach Holly Warlick and UCLA Women’s Head Basketball Coach Nikki Caldwell decided to team up and create a new charitable organization. They settled on a name,  Champions For A Cause, a non-profit (501(c)-3)  organization with the mission to raise money for breast cancer research, education and outreach. Both Holly and Nikki have been personally affected by breast cancer, so it was a natural to decide to work together to help eradicate this disease.

Invasion of the Pod People movie download C4C is based in Knoxville, Tennessee (hello, home of the Lady Vols) and has raised and donated nearly $100,000 to help support the fight against breast cancer through its signature events: Cruisin’ For A Cause – a long haul motorcycle ride, Links Fore The Cure – a women’s golf tournament, and the TaTa Tour - a day motorcycle ride around the Knoxville area.

Kicking off this year’s Champions For A Cause events is the long haul motorcycle event, Cruisin’ for a Cause.  Starting Sunday, May 3, both Warlick and Caldwell, along with the Cruisin’ Crew, an entourage of supporters, will ride their bikes for a 1500-mile round-trip along the Natchez Trace.

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The motorcycle ride will begin in Knoxville and the crew will stop to host fundraisers and meet fans along the route, including a New Orleans-based event and a welcome home party in Knoxville’s Market Square on Sunday, May 9. The celebration will include special guests, live music and more. Past Cruisin’ for a Cause events include an inaugural ride from Knoxville to Los Angeles and back, and last year’s round-trip from Knoxville to Key West, Florida. The event has raised more than $100,000.

And later in the year, Champions For A Cause, will hold its annual women’s golf tournament, Links Fore the Cure on Monday, Oct. 19, at Gettysvue Polo, Golf and Country Club. To date, the tournament has raised $300,000 for breast cancer awareness and treatment efforts.

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The money raised through these events supports efforts such as the University of Tennessee Breast Health Outreach Program, Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, and The Wellness Community of East Tennessee. These organizations have provided thousands of mammograms, countless treatments, and hours of education for those who could not otherwise afford these life saving services.

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Champions For A Cause is a non-profit (501(c)-3) fundraising organization started by Tennessee Lady Vol Basketball Associate Head Coach Holly Warlick and UCLA head coach Nikki Caldwell, with the mission to advance and support the cause of charitable organizations who advocate and act to better the quality of life and health for individuals at risk or in need. For more information on Champions For A Cause, www.championsforacause.org.

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Hello world!

April 28th, 2009

Champions for a Cause

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