Diamond Rio’s Jimmy Olander, Marty Roe and Gene Johnson were on hand last night during the 7th Annual Team Rio Finish Line Party to present Big Brothers Big Sisters with a check for $110,000.00. Team Rio 2011 had over 120 adult runners and 80 Team Rio Kids participants from several local schools.
Olander, Team Rio’s Celebrity Running Captain, accomplished his goal of finishing the half marathon in less than two hours. “This years Country Music Marathon was a day to get it done!," explains Olander. "The stars had all aligned for perfect weather. My training was impacted by so many people this year it's makes me think it truly takes a village to raise a 49 year old! I finished at 1:58 and still felt kind of fresh. Life is good!”
It’s not too late to support the team. If you would like to make a pledge on behalf of Team Rio please visit www.teamrio/kintera.org.
About Team Rio:
Team Rio was founded in 2004 by Diamond Rio's guitarist, Jimmy Olander and Modern Management's Renee Behrman. Diamond Rio, long-time National Ambassadors for Big Brothers Big Sisters and Behrman, a Big Sister and agency Board Member allocated BBBS as the team's benefactor. In the past seven years over $750,000.00 has been raised for the Middle Tennessee agency.
http://www.teamrio.org/
About Team Rio Kids:
In addition to raising funds and awareness for the agency, a main goal of Team Rio Running and Walking for Big Brothers Big Sisters is to promote health and fitness to local kids. The youth team, TEAM RIO KIDS, partners with local schools to teach and encourage a healthier lifestyle and assist the kids with their training for the Kids Marathon. Team Rio Kids will train within their respective schools or with their parents to complete 25.2 miles prior to April 24th when they will complete the last mile of the actual course and cross the official Country Music Marathon finish line. SGT Ken, Team Rio Kids Coach, provides training schedules and health tips in his weekly email newsletters, “SGT Ken Says.”
About Diamond Rio:
Diamond Rio recently won a Grammy for their 11th album The Reason on Word Records which also garnered the band their first Dove award. Formed in 1984, Diamond Rio features lead singer Marty Roe, guitarist Jimmy Olander, drummer Brian Prout, keyboardist Dan Truman, bassist/harmony Dana Williams and Gene Johnson on mandolin/harmony. The band signed with Arista in 1988 and embarked on one of the most successful careers in country music. The band has sold over 10 million albums earning three platinum and five gold records and won the Country Music Association’s Vocal Group of the Year award four times as well as netting two Academy of Country Music Awards in the top Vocal Group of the Year category and thirteen GRAMMY ® nominations. When they debuted in 1991 with the hit “Meet in the Middle,” Diamond Rio became the first group in the history of country music to have a debut single reach No. 1. They continued to plac e 32 more singles on the Billboard chart, including “How Your Love Makes Me Feel,” “Norma Jean Riley,” “Beautiful Mess” and “Love a Little Stronger.”
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee:
Big Brothers Big Sisters is providing children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. These improvements help children create better schools, safer neighborhoods, and make healthier choices. In 2010, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee served 2,812 children with a mentor.
The organization depends on investors to help recruit volunteers and reach more children. Funding is used to conduct background checks on volunteers to ensure child safety, and provide ongoing support for children, families and volunteers to build and sustain long-lasting relationships.
You can help a vulnerable child beat the odds in Middle Tennessee by going to www.mentorakid.org or calling (615) 329-9191.
http://www.teamrio.org/
www.teamrio.kintera.org
http://www.myspace.com/diamondriosteamrio
twitter.com/teamrio2011
www.facebook.com/diamondriosteamrio
www.diamondrio.com
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