Davidson’s Casual Dining = Cinnamon Roll Heaven
One of the surprise donations to the Blind Ambition Dessert Auction was a dozen cinnamon rolls from Davidson’s Casual Dining in Tigard Oregon.
If you haven’t been to Davidson’s, you probably think we’re talking about regular old cinnamon rolls. If you’ve been there, you know Davidson’s makes mouthwatering giganta-rolls. The dozen had to be sent in three separate boxes.
When they were announced during the auction, Davidson’s fans throughout the crowd went Ohhhhhhhhh! You know, like they’d just seen a spectacular firework display.
Head over to Davidson’s–12830 SW Pacific Hwy, Tigard, OR–for a great meal, followed by a cinnamon roll so big you’ll have to share. While you’re there, thank owner Greg White for his generous donation to the Blind Ambition Dessert Auction Fundraiser.
Skier Brian McKeever Selected for Canada’s Olympic Team!
CANMORE, Alberta (AP) — Cross-country skier Brian McKeever was selected for Canada’s Olympic team on Friday, making him the first winter sports athlete to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics. McKeever, who is visually impaired because of Stargardt’s disease, has won seven Paralympic medals, including four gold, with his brother Robin as his guide.
On to Vancouver.
”It shows if you dream big dreams, you can get there no matter what,” said the 30-year-old McKeever. ”It’s a message of hope for the Paralympics. In the past, the Paralympics has been seen as a sideshow, not by the athletes but just in terms of the attention that it gets.”
Five athletes — all in summer sports — have competed in the Paralympics and Olympics: South African swimmer Natalie du Toit (amputee), American runner Marla Runyan (visually impaired), Polish table tennis player Natalia
Partyka (born without right hand and forearm), Italian archer Paola Fantato (polio) and New Zealand archer Neroli Susan Fairhall (paraplegic).
McKeever’s sight was lost to the same disease that claimed his father’s vision. Stargardt’s disease can be inherited and causes macular degeneration. McKeever’s vision functions at less than 10 percent and is only peripheral.
He won a 50-kilometer race last month to meet the Olympic team criteria. When he competes in able-bodied events, he finds another skier of the same ability to follow as a guide.
”Hopefully this shows that Paralympic athletes are capable of great things and they’re training to the same levels and the same kind of hours and effort their able-bodied counterparts are doing,” he said.
Peggie Roy’s Blue Ribbon Dutch Apple Crumb Pie
One of the amazing homemade desserts donated by members of Rose City Park United Methodist Church to the Blind Ambition Dessert Auction Fundraiser was Peggie Roy’s Dutch Apple Crumb pie in a stoneware pie dish. As if the mouth-watering scent of cinnamon and apples wafting off this pie wasn’t enough temptation, Peggie sent along a cute poem to pique the crowd’s interest:
Feast your eye upon this pie. Dutch Apple Crumb, Yum, Yum, Yum.
Made with Love a pinch of this and a pinch of that.
A Blue Ribbon Winner at the Douglas County Fair. Dig in your pockets for some wondrous ware.
It’s amazing to taste, so make haste, no time to waste.
Enjoy this prize, you’ll be surprised. It’s for a good cause, so buy this pie and enjoy the applause.
Made by Peggie Roy. Douglas County Blue Ribbon Winner 1996. Best in Show.
Dutch Apple Pie lover Wesley Frazey paid $40 to take this beauty home and invited several auction attendees over to his house to sample it. The lucky tasters agreed this pie deserves its blue ribbon reputation. The apples were just tart enough to taste like the were fresh off the tree yet loaded with cinnamon, sugar and butter to create a melt-in-your mouth delight worth of the flaky crust it was tucked into. Thank you so much, Peggie!
Counting Down to the Dessert Auction
The dessert auction is Wednesday and the team is in high spirits! We’ve assembled an amazing array of desserts and are now coordinating the final details of the event.
There is still time to buy tickets and we’ll hold them at the door for you.
Also, we still have table sponsorships available. This is a great way to support our team while earning some extra publicity for your business.
Huge thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to get ready for the dessert auction and everyone who has sponsored a table, donated a dessert, or pitched in to help with preparations.
Join us Wednesday, February 10th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Shanghai Noble House Restaurant to kick of your Chinese New Year and help send Blind Ambition to China!
For an athlete who is blind, paddling is unique.
For an athlete who is blind, dragon boat racing is unique from all other sports because we’re on an equal playing field with everyone else. There’s no special equipment, no accommodations except having someone lead us to the boat. Once we’re in the boat, we get to be just athletes — not “blind athletes.” There’s almost no other sport that offers that. I think everyone on the team treasures the ability to compete on an equal playing field as the number one reason we’re drawn to paddling.
John Fleming
Paddler
Blind Ambition PDX
Blind Ambition on 1st Leg of Race to China
Blind Ambition Flag Grab
Yes, we’ve been invited to race in China in June 2010!
We’re excited and honored! This trip means showcasing the abilities of the blind/visually impaired on an international stage — but it also means raising $45,000 for travel, accommodations and other necessities for the team and our equipment. GULP!
And this is a team sport. We all go or none of us go.
So, yeah, we’re just every day people with every day jobs and we don’t have the money to just write a check for the expenses but we figure together we have a sporting chance.
So we’ve started considering this phase the first leg of the race.
Team members have been out raising funds through grants, we’re holding fundraisers, and we’re boldy asking you to help out.
Whatever you can do, sponsor the team, send us a ten-spot, or spread the word to your social network.
We have $14,000 right now toward the trip. That’s $31k to go.
We think, if we put our backs into it, we can do this! Come meet us online and join the 1st Leg of the Race to China!
Have you heard the news?
Blind Ambition — the first visually impaired dragon boat team in the U.S. to compete equally with sighted teams — has been invited to race in China in June 2010!
This is an unprecedented chance for the Rose City to support these pioneering athletes and their mission to promote the abilities of the blind/visually impaired in a competitive environment through paddle sports.
More soon!
