I hate $

It’s true…
I hate thinking about money.  I hate worrying about money.  I hate trying to raise money.
The first thing I say anytime someone asks me to help out with a fundraiser is that “I won’t do it…you can’t make me…because I hate money!”
But — ah, yes, the infamous BUT — in the 8 months since Coach and I signed on to chair this Walk to End Alzheimer’s, I have become determined to reach the $1 Million mark in gifts and donations to help create a world without Alzheimer’s Disease.
Maybe it’s my competitive nature.  Maybe it’s the better understanding that I’ve gained of this universally fatal condition.  Maybe it’s the fact that without these Walks all across America, we don’t stand a chance at generating the conversations, momentum, nor money required to even enter the ring to attempt to fight this thing.  I honestly don’t know what has me so fired up…I just know that I am!
I also know that we are still $350,000 short, and I have only 10 days to find a way to make this thing happen.
As you probably got sick of hearing last week, Coach and I challenged the world-at-large to donate $10,000 to our Tulsa Walk.  If they did, we would match that $10,000.  Well, the world came through in a huge way…over the course of the week our progress bar moved up more than $100,000!!
Wow!!
And THANK YOU to every single person who heard our plea and answered our cry!
We were blown away by the success, and this evening I very happily donated our $10,000 gift.
I decided to spread our gift out among our TEAM SANDRA JEAN walkers as well as our TU teams.  I am overwhelmed, deeply touched, and truly astonished by how many of our Golden Hurricane family have created teams to support an end to Alzheimer’s.
In case you haven’t found a team to whom you feel connected and want to support, I have compiled below a sprinkling of your many, many options, and if you still cannot find a place to put your donation, click here to browse the rest of our Tulsa Walk teams.  You are sure to know at least one – and probably several – that will welcome your support.  Without a doubt, we all appreciate every single gift, regardless of size!
Please don’t give up.  I certainly am not!  I truly believe that we can surpass our goal, even at $5 a gift, and we will reach that $1 Million mark over the next 10 days.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking this step to tackle Alzheimer’s with me and Coach!
With love and hugs,
Ashli

Our University of Tulsa Walk Teams:

• Alpha Kappa Alpha Theta Xi (the AKA family)
• Bulldog (Coach Hicks with family and the QC crew)
• Gerald Cherry (Coach Cherry with family and the GA crew)
• Kappa Alpha Order (the KA family)
• Kappa Kappa Gamma (the Kappa family)
• Kappa Sigma (the K-Sig family)
• Team GrandDaddy (Coach & Tiffiney Norwood and the Defensive Secondary family)
• Team Heatly (Rolle & Office Administrator Micki Heatly with family and friends)
• Team Hill (Coach & Dana Hill and the Running Back family)
• Team Kingsley-Nerio (Chris & Jill Nerio with the TU Training staff family)
• Team Lowry/Hogan (Coach Lowry and the Receivers family along with Coach Annie and the Nutrition team and their families)
• Team Raymond (Coach & Lauren Trahan and the QB family)
• Team Sandra Jean (Me and Coach with family and friends)
• Team TU (Helen and Andy MacKay and the entire TU family)
• Team TU – Collins College of Business (Dean Sullenberger and the CCB family)
• Team WE (Coach & Jodi Gillespie and the Defensive Back family)
• Team Welte (DFVS DJ & Elaine Welte and the Video Services family)
• TU College of Engineering and Natural Sciences (Dean Sorem and the ENS family)
• TU Defense (Coach & Calli Ashley and the Defensive Tackle family)
• TU Trenchlife (Coach & Lexi Bloesch and the Offensive Line family)
• TU Strength (Coach & Alissa Davis and the Strength & Conditioning family)
• Tulsa OASiS (Dr. Christina Carter and the Office of Academic & Student Services family)
• Tulsa Pikes (the Pi Kappa Alpha family)
• Tulsa Softball (Our softball girls, coaches, and families)
• Tulsa Tri Delt (the Delta Delta Delta family)
• University of Tulsa Chi Omega (the Chi-O family)
• University of Tulsa Delta Gamma (the Dee Gee family)
• University of Tulsa Kappa Alpha Theta (the Theta family)
• University of Tulsa Letterman’s Association (DFO and Former TU Player Kyle & Jess Grooms with all former TU athletes)
• University of Tulsa Spirit Squad (Zack and Coach Amanda Snider with the Cheer and Pom families)