Springtime in Colorado 

The weather outside is frightful and hopefully each of you are safe and warm during our only Colorado Blizzard.  No complaints from this frustrated Gardner....my gardens are smiling through the elements. 

For those of you who would like to take a glimpse at the March 14 My Big Greek Roast benefit, photos are now posted on our Foundation website.  You may log on and preview by clicking the link below http://www.danisfoundation.org/index.cfm?content=gallery&folderPath=/root/2009mybiggreekroastbenefitauction

Hopefully you will enjoy the photos of this wonderful event for our Foundation and the patients and researchers that we serve. 

Many new projects are in the works for our organization and information will be coming soon on new programs and special events.  We are hopeful that you will continue your support of our efforts to assist in finding the cause and the cure for Ewing's Sarcoma and the other forms of pediatric sarcomas that are affecting children and young adults. 

Any and all support in the days and months ahead will be greatly appreciated! 

Stay warm, dry and SAFE,

Martha Simmons

Executive Director 

 

Denver Bronco TV Highlights My Big Greek

Roasting for A Cause

 By Adam Zinser

DenverBroncos.com 

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- "He has given his heart and soul to the Denver Broncos... And his hair." Those were some of the words said by KCNC CBS4's Vic Lombardi on Saturday night at "My Big Greek Roast," a roast and charity event honoring Denver Broncos Head Athletic Trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos for his 33 years of service to the Broncos.  While the night featured many jokes and funny stories, most of which had Greek as the focal point, all the proceeds benefitted Dani's Foundation for pediatric cancer research.  From his family members to friends to former coaches and players, several hundred people packed the west club lounge at INVESCO Field at Mile High to celebrate Greek and help raise money and awareness for cancer research.

"With all the years I've worked with the Broncos, they are part of my family," Greek said. "The relationships you build at this level, they're like brothers, nephews, sons. It's really neat to see them all. It has been an awesome time. But it's all about Dani's Foundation. That's the neat part -- it's for a great cause."  Dani's Foundation was formed in memory of Dani Stell, a young woman who, at the age of 18, was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that mostly affects children and young adults. Despite her diagnosis, the active and energetic Dani fought on, graduating from high school and enrolling in college courses. As her mother Michelle Asby told those assembled at the event, Dani had a philosophy -- "I am living with cancer, not dying from it."  However, she lost her battle with cancer in April 1999 at the age of 19, and since then, her mother has fought to raise awareness of and money for research of Ewing's sarcoma and other types of pediatric cancer.

Martha Simmons, Executive Director of the Foundation, helped plan and organize the event at INVESCO Field, and she said that it was without a doubt the biggest event yet. Previously, the most they had raised at a single event was $10,000, and they hoped to be able to raise much, much more with the help of the Denver Broncos.  "We're thrilled to be associated with the Denver Bronco alumni," Simmons said. "You see the media here and the support that has come out of the community. This is a first for this organization."  "If you read the story about Dani, she went six months being mis-diagnosed," Simmons continued. "We are finding this more and more. Six months could have saved Dani's life. Pediatric sarcomas are so underfunded. Any dollars we can donate could bring us one step closer to finding a cure."

So members of the Broncos and leaders in the community came together to celebrate Greek's career, knowing that every penny the event earned would help the Foundation fight for a cure.
What better way to raise awareness and money than by hosting a fun party to honor a man who has helped keep the Broncos healthy and playing football for 50 years?  And it most definitely was a fun night.  Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper recorded a video message for Greek in which he officially proclaimed March 14, 2009 to be "Steve 'The Greek' Antonopulos Day." Former Bronco player and coach and current Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak also had a recorded video message for his former trainer.

As hosts of the event, 850 KOA's Dave Logan and KDVR Fox31's Ron Zappolo took playful shots at Greek all night as they introduced each speaker. Former players Mark Cooper, Jim Jensen and Billy Thompson were just a few of the Bronco alumni to take the podium and make fun of the man who helped keep them on the field.  "It's tough for me to say anything bad about the guy, but I'm going to have to try," Jensen said, smiling. "If you can imagine this, Steve has been around the Broncos before there were computers. Steve has been around here since the old school days."  Then Thompson chimed in with, "They told me I'd have five minutes to say all the great things I can say about Steve. And I said, 'Great. What am I going to do with the other four minutes?'"

"When I first met him it was 1976," Thompson continued. "That was the first time I saw Greek, and as a matter of fact, he had hair at that time. I had a little bit more too at that time."  Through it all, Greek sat with his family and laughed, enjoying the evening, knowing that no matter what, it would all go to help out a worthy cause.

And, of course, he would have his own chance to get even.  "Obviously to be roasted is one thing, but really it's an honor to be roasted," Greek said. "If they want to roast me, more power to them because I'll have the last say. I probably know more about them than they know about me. I may have the last laugh in this whole deal."  At the end of the night, the event raised more than $47,000 for pediatric cancer research.  

To view video from the event on Denver Bronco TV, click on the link below

http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=8907