For the first three years of my efforts here in Carroll County I went out of my way to leave my Faith out of the conversation.

This was for no other reason than to not scare off any potential partners in my efforts to create a Network of people that had similar goals as myself.

Once the writing ✍ was on the wall that I would miss my Goals by a Country Mile, I reverted back to my Faith because it 🙏 is why I started this chase.

Tonight is about nothing but Faith and at the High School 🏫 / Community level. The bonus being that one of our own had a hand ✋in organizing the event ! KK Newman is finishing up her College days at nearby Bluefield and this event is one of the many events that she is putting her efforts into.

On the way to Graham High School there were stops ✋at The Carroll News ( to support Allen Worrell on Deadline Day), the Rest Area ( getting the Step 🚶‍♂️ requirements met) and the East River Soccer ⚽️ Complex ( to support Marion Harris).

Marion Harris is taking me back to memories of my own Youth. My Dad 👨 would go out and get a second job anytime that his job / career (U.S. Navy) didn’t provide enough to raise five children, he would go out and get a second one and at times a 3rd one.

It rubbed off on me as I tried to feed and put braces on five kids of my own. Seeing Marion sacrifice evening after evening away from his Wife and Children to help provide for them is Awesome !!!

The battle 💪 for quality in life regards to my own Health comes with a minimum Step 🚶‍♂️ Count each day. Realizing that I had not recorded very many that was an easy fix.

Now, that was the road to Graham so now we can focus on the event at Graham. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes ✝️ is a group that is near and dear to me. From Mitch Reed on down the list, they are doing God’s Work 🙏.

The live band playing 🎶🎵 here has a Blessed sound !

Everyone might not agree on what are the steps required to successfully guide our Youth down a path that will allow them a chance to be our leaders of tomorrow, but there’s no disputing the fact that the Kiddos of today are going to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Will jump back in and add to this post 📫 later as the event is officially starting, right at 6:30 !

Such a beautiful setting with an incredible purpose !

Monday Recap – 191.1 miles driven with support shown to Marion Harris, my Health, Allen Worrell, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes ✝️ and God !

Tomorrow we start at 8:15 at Hillsville Elementary School 🏫 !

Have yourself a Blessed Night 🌙

In a recent conversation with Trenton Miller I shared with him that if I could only give someone one piece of advice it would be to ” Finish What You Start “

Those four words have carried me for the past few decades and now with just the final 14 days left, it will be a Mad Dash to the Finish Line ! No taking it easy here….

First, we have three on going projects – Dr McBride, Varsity Volleyball 🏐 profiles ( 3 remaining) and working with the Junior Varsity team on their Group Hug Page. We now have a photo 📷 of all 16 standing next to someone who Loves 💘 them and now we will build on it!

Monday (10/21) – You see the photo 📷 at the Top about tonight’s event up at Graham High School 🏫. One of our own, KK Newman was involved with organizing the event and how could one not love the cause.

Tuesday (10/22)… 8:15 am to help Vickey Ritchie with her next project and then that evening there will be a singing performance 🎭 at the High School…

Wednesday (10/23) – Getting told by my Doctor that while I tried hard, I didn’t make the level of improvement that both he and I desired since the last labs. Afterwards, Bluefield Soccer ⚽️ has a 2pm game at the East River Soccer Complex.

Thursday (10/24) – Junior Varsity Volleyball 🏐 closes out their season at Radford. Varsity closes out their regular season as well. Also, hopefully someone will be up to helping 🙏 with the JV Football game.

Friday (10/25) – Back to Boone, North Carolina for our next Home 🏡 Field Hockey 🏑 game.

Saturday (10/26) – Southern Methodist University (6-1) brings their high flying offense into Wallace Wade Stadium 🏟 to face Duke (6-1).

Sunday (10/27) – Very special Fund Raising event for the Children’s Hospital 🏥 in Durham as two former Duke players Coach against each other in an event called The Brotherhood Run. Getting to see Bobby Hurley return to Cameron with his Arizona State team will be fun!.

Monday (10/28) – Tricky one here as Linda has an 11am flight ✈️ out of Raleigh – Durham Airport and the District Tourney for Volleyball 🏐 opens at Alleghany that night 🌙.

Tuesday (10/29) – Beckley, West Virginia and the West Virginia Tech Golden Bears 🐻 Baseball ⚾️ Program.

Wednesday (10/30) This date has been circled on my Calendar 📅 for months as Eastern Mennonite University plays Volleyball 🏐 at Ferrum College. Two recent CCHS Grads playing against each other for the third time. But, if the current VB team were to Win on Monday, they would play for the Championship on Wednesday.

Thursday (10/31) – Head back to Boone ahead of Friday’s regular season 🏡 finally. The reason for needing to go early is that after announcing the game on Friday I have to head over to RDU for an EARLY flight ✈️ down to Miami on Saturday.

Friday (11/1) – Announcing the App State home game, the last one of season #3. Then driving 🚗 over to RDU. Writing ✍ a $1,000.00 check for the next month of the donation to the Academics part of the School.

Saturday (11/2) – Jump on a airplane ✈ with some really cool people for a quick trip down to Miami for the Duke @ Miami football game. Later today, the networks will announce whether we get the Noon, 3:30 or late game. This will dictate the events of the day in regards to before and after. Flight ✈️ gets back to RDU just after Midnight.

Sunday (11/3) – Next stop ✋ is Harrisonburg, Va. Two things taking place up there. Daytime its James Madison University hosting App State with the M.A.C regular season Championship on the line.

Evening time, this is where my Overnight Team runs 🏃‍♂️ our operation and its been a while since I actually did my job from my job.

Don’t forget about keeping up with Coach Shawn Montgomery and his Cross Country teams the rest of the way.

➕ writing a check for the balance of the $10,000.00 pledge ($6K)

One disappointment will come in the form of Saturday 11/2. It turns out that the Regional VB tournament play in games will be that day. This means that #7 will host #10 and #8 will host #9. This wouldn’t effect anything in regards to me unless CCHS were to finish #7 or #8 and it turns out that is a distinct possibility now….

As the Late, Great Paul Harvey would say, Now you know the Rest of the Story…..

Appalachian State University and the Boone community was hit as hard as the majority of Western North Carolina. This led to a unique twist to the Mountaineers visit to the East Campus of Duke University.

Fans attending the game were encouraged to bring items to the ballpark that are in high demand for those still struggling to recover from the Hurricane 🌀.

Pictured above is one of the collection stations 🚉 for the donations.

The storm is long gone but the battle for many is just beginning.