One week until the “#3 Ryan Salmons Day of Giving” event

Just a reminder that the "#3 Ryan Salmons Day of Giving" takes place in one week on Saturday, December 19th from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the gymnasium at Memorial Baptist Church (2435 Eakin Road - SW Columbus). The event features a blood drive in memory of our favorite Blue Jacket. If you wish to donate but have not yet signed up, do so NOW as available slots are filling up quickly. Because of the response, a double red cell machine will also be available for interested and qualified donors. Walk-in's are welcome but with priority given to appointments.

1. Click Here to Sign Up Today!*
2. Then, click the "Schedule Your Blood Donation" link (red button on left)
3. Enter the Sponsor Code: ryansalmons

A Columbus Blue Jackets prize package will be raffled at the end of the event. The package includes dinner at the HD Time Warner Lounge and four tickets to see the Jackets on Saturday, January 19th and autographed merchandise. Tickets are $5 each or three (3) for $10. Anyone can purchase raffle tickets the day of the event and you do not need to be present to win.

Raffle proceeds and #3 Salmons CBJ t-shirt sales will benefit the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation. Salmons hats and remembrance wristbands will be for sale with proceeds benefiting the Ryan Salmons Foundation.

If you have any questions or experience difficulty with the e-donor registration, contact chris_p_tucker@ham.honda.com.

Progress Report on the “#3 Ryan Salmons Day of Giving” event.

Recently we announced a blood drive (Saturday, December 19th from 8:30 am – 2:30 pm) in memory of our favorite Blue Jacket with a goal to have 75 registered donors by October 19th. We are pleased to have achieved 37% of our target (28 registered donors) with just over one week left in the initial challenge. The American Red Cross has pledged additional donor slots if this trend continues. If you would like to donate, but have not yet signed up, please do so NOW.

1. Click Here to Sign Up Today!*
2. Then, click the "Schedule Your Blood Donation" link (red button on left)
3. Enter the Sponsor Code: ryansalmons

Good news for teenagers interested in donating. On October 6th, the minimum age for donor eligibility was lowered to age 16 (parent’s permission is required). Minimum requirements for teenagers age 16 – 18 also include new height and weight requirements. To learn more about this change and see if you may be eligible to donate, email the contact listed below.

Volunteers are beginning to distribute fliers to local businesses, churches and schools. A huge thanks to the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation for passing out fliers at their “Hockey is in Your Blood” campaign recently.

To become a volunteer or ask how you can register to donate without going through the e-donor site, contact chris_p_tucker@ham.honda.com. Event fliers to send friends/family, post at work, school or a local business or on Facebook or My Space are also available upon request.

Announcing the “#3 Ryan Salmons Day of Giving” event.

On Saturday, December 19th, from 8:30 am – 2:30 pm, the # 3 “Refuse To Lose” blood drive in honor of Ryan will occur at Memorial Baptist Church, located at 2435 Eakin Road, Columbus. December is an extremely challenging time for the American Red Cross (ARC). Yet the need during the winter season is constant.

Presently, 75 donor slots have been reserved for this event. Based on demand, there is some flexibility to add more. However, because ARC resources are limited and must be allocated well in advance, interested donors need to register and sign up via the ARC e-donor link by October 19th. If slots are unaccounted for two months in advance of the drive, ARC resources could be reallocated to other drives occurring across Central Ohio. We anticipate slots may fill fast, so please reserve yours now, don’t delay. For your convenience, the e-donor link is located on this home page.

1. Click Here to Sign Up Today!*
2. Then, click the "Schedule Your Blood Donation" link (red button on left)
3. Enter the Sponsor Code: ryansalmons

In addition to the blood drive, a Columbus Blue Jacket prize package will be raffled off at the event. The winner will receive four tickets (upper bowl – attack zone) to see the Jacket vs. Chicago on Saturday, January 16th @ 7 pm. Additionally, the winning party will be treated to a dinner buffet before the game in the Time Warner HD Lounge and receive four signed “Hats for Heroes” hats and pennants and a visit from Stinger during the game. Tickets cost $5 each or 3 for $10 and contributions are tax deductible.

Raffle tickets will only be sold at the event. But you do not have to donate blood to purchase tickets. So, if unable to donate, you can still stop by and show your support by purchasing tickets to win this wonderful prize. The winning ticket will be drawn after the event and you need not be present to win. Lastly, #3 Ryan Salmons T-shirts will be available for purchase at $20 each, while supplies last.

All proceeds from both the raffle and t-shirt sales will benefit the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation. Fliers have been created to promote the event. If you would like a flier to post or forward to others that may be interested, or if you experience problems with the e-donor registration site, contact Chris Tucker at chris_p_tucker@ham.honda.com.

* If the Sign Up link does not work for you, simply copy and paste this url in the address bar: www.bloodsaveslives.org

Ryan's Golf Outing Photo's, etc.

Everyone:

Thank you for participating in the Ryan Salmons Memorial Golf Outing. It was an absolutely beautiful day and a great tribute to Ryan. Through your generosity, we were able to raise almost $12,000.00 to start Ryan's foundation. We also raised almost $500.00 for The Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation through the sale of Ryan's #3 Tee Shirts.

We have finally got the golf pictures loaded and accessible on Barry's picture site. Thank you to Greg Bartram for donating his time and expertise in capturing the day in pictures. Ryan always looked forward to seeing Greg at the CBJ games and I appreciate his friendship. These pictures are open so please feel free to save to your computer. If you would like to order a professional photo, Greg and Barry will donate any proceeds to Ryan's foundation.

http://www.agreatpicture.com/gallery/9300809_xZFjc#P-1-15

We have been very busy since the golf outing was completed. We have secured a nonprofit status with The Secretary of State and received our EIN number. We are currently in process for our 501 C 3 status. We have established a website and it is currently under construction. I look forward to keeping you updated as we continue through this process.

http://www.ryansalmonsfoundation.org/

Finally, we have our first recipient benefiting from Ryan's foundation. His name is Matthew Barr and he is four years old. Matthew and his family will be attending "The Wiggles" on August 27th. He and his little brother Darren are very excited about going. Here is a brief bio on Matthew;

Matthew was diagnosed with a PNET brain tumor on Dec. 13, 2007. He had 5 rounds of chemo followed by a stem cell transplant. Relapsed in Jan. '09 - 6 weeks of radiation therapy. Latest MRI in July '09 showed no disease in spine, but still present in brain. Continuing with Accutane for now. You can follow Matthew's story at:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/matthewbarr

Thanks again to everyone that made the outing a great success. You don't realize how much it means to these families going through the battle. On behalf of all of them, THANK YOU.

Brad Salmons
Ryan's Dad

Ryan's story featured in Sunday's Columbus Dispatch

An article on Ryan was featured on the front page of the sports section in Sunday's Columbus Dispatch (7/19/09). For those of you out of town, I've attached a copy of it here for you.


http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2009/07/19/arace_7-19.ART_ART_07-19-09_C1_BAEH19M.html?sid=101


We're really looking forward to the Golf Outing this Friday. I'll attach some pictures of it next week. Thank you so much for all of your support.

~Aunt Amy

Reminder for the Inaugural Ryan Salmons Foundation Golf Outing

The Inaugural Ryan Salmons Foundation Golf Outing is almost here. Please join us in this great event next Friday, July 24th. Brad has worked with the Blue Jackets Foundation to establish a foundation in Ryan's memory. This golf outing is the first event for the foundation, which will raise money to help ensure families battling pediatric cancer can occasionally enjoy a night out at local sporting events such a Blue Jackets or Clippers game.

The Golf Outing will be Friday, July 24th, at Foxfire Golf Course. It will feature a noon shotgun start with registatration at 11 a.m. The $100 per person ticket includes golf, a cart, dinner, four on-course drink tickets. All proceeds will benefit families of the Nationwide Children's Hospital Cancer Floor (J5).

"Ryan and I constantly spoke about 'The doctors doing the doctor stuff, and I (Brad) would work on the spirit stuff," Brad Salmons said. "Ryan's legacy to the other kids will be the spirit stuff. We could not venture more than a couple hours from Children's hospital. We will not be a Foundation for Disney trips or wishes, but an evening away at home without worry of the financial burden. Clippers, Blue Jackets, OSU sports, etc. If a family enjoys the zoo, we will try to make it happen for the kids."

Event Details
Friday July 24th 12:00 shotgun start
Fox Fire Golf Course - Lockbourne, Ohio
$100 per person. Price includes: round of golf, dinner, driving range balls, 4 drink tickets each
Participation in the silent auction. For more information, please contact Cindy Ackley at cackley4670@wideopenwest.com. If someone dosen't want to play in the outing but wishes to donate to help the families, they can also contact Cindy.

Announcing...The Inaugural Ryan Salmons Foundation Golf Outing

A repost from The Columbus Dispatch Puck-rakers Blog (http://blog.dispatch.com/cbj/2009/06/salmons_golf_outing.shtml)

The inaugural Ryan Salmons Foundation Golf Outing will be held July 24 at Foxfire Golf Course.

Salmons, the former hockey player whose courage in the face of terminal illness helped inspire the Blue Jackets, died on May 1 after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 19.

His father, Brad, has worked with the Blue Jackets Foundation to establish a foundation in Ryan's memory.The golf outing is the first event for the foundation, which will raise money to help ensure families battling pediatric cancer can occasionally enjoy a night out at local sporting events such a Blue Jackets or Clippers game.

The outing on July 24th will feature a noon shotgun start with registatration at 11 a.m. The $100 per person ticket includes golf, a cart, dinner, four on-course drink tickets. All proceeds will benefit families of the Nationwide Children's Hospital Cancer Floor (J5).

"Ryan and I constantly spoke about 'The doctors doing the doctor stuff, and I (Brad) would work on the spirit stuff," Brad Salmons said. "Ryan's legacy to the other kids will be the spirit stuff. We could not venture more than a couple hours from Children's hospital. We will not be a Foundation for Disney trips or wishes, but an evening away at home without worry of the financial burden. Clippers, Blue Jackets, OSU sports, etc. If a family enjoys the zoo, we will try to make it happen for the kids."

Event Details

• Friday July 24th 12:00 shotgun start
• Fox Fire Golf Course - Lockbourne, Ohio
• $100 per person. Price includes: round of golf, dinner, driving range balls, 4 drink tickets each
• Participation in the silent auction

For more information, please contact Cindy Ackley at cackley4670@wideopenwest.com. If someone dosen't want to play in the outing but wishes to donate to help the families, they can also contact Cindy.