2011 D4D Minnie 5K

Hey Everyone,
This Saturday, September 17, 2011, marks the Distance 4 Dreams 4th Annual Minnie 5K Run/Walk!!!  Come out and walk/run to help grant a young child's wish and make their dreams come true!
Time and Location:
Registration begins at 9:15 am. Race starts at 10:30 am at the UD RecPlex.  Course covers UD campus.  A course map will be provided at the race.  Post-Race Festivities will be held in Humanities Plaza.
Registration: Participants can register Thursday and Friday outside of Kennedy Union from 11 am -2 pm.  Also you can register day of starting at 9:15 am.  Cost is $15 for the race and race t-shirt.  People who register before day of race can receive race registration, race t-shirt, and a D4D water bottle or mug for $20.

Awards: Awards will go to top 5 male and female runners.  Also their will be an award for best Disney Themed costume and other door prizes.

Packet Pick-Up: Race Packets can be picked up out side KU by the fountain on Friday, Sept. 16th, from 11am to 2 pm or at the start of the race on Saturday Morning.  All runners will receive their race bibs the morning of the race.

Results: Results will be posted by Monday, Sept. 19, on www.keysports.net

** Race Volunteers should report to the front of the Recplex at 8:30 am race day morning

Midnight Mile 2011!!!

     After a long summer off, Dreamers are ready to kick off another amazing year of training!  D4D set the year in motion by having the annual Midnight Mile.  Dreamers gathered at 12 am sharp in all their best fluorescent gear to have the group's first official training run of the new school year.  A nice late night stroll while singing some favorite Disney tunes took D4D'ers all around campus and the student neighborhood.  The group is now ready for their 14 week training program before taking on Disney!

Another Intramural Championship!!!

After last year's success in the intramural world, D4D came back this year ready to compete.  With training for the Disney Marathon Weekend having yet to begin, Dreamers took to preseason intramural tournaments to stay active.  D4D competed in preseason co-ed volleyball, indoor soccer, and basketball tournaments and had great showings in all three sports.  But, after some tough fought games in the quick-paced tournament, the D4D team came out on top in the preseason basketball tournament.  D4D sported a large and spirited squad in all the games that brought the right skills to overcome the competition.  Congrats to all those who competed! Be sure to show off the coveted Intramural Champions T-shirts around campus!

A Weekend of Magic and 2 Wishes Granted!




Distance 4 Dreams with Elijah and Family at GKTW

  2010-2011 turned out to be another exciting and successful year for Distance 4 Dreams! During the weekend of January 7-10, 2011, 45 Dayton D4D-ers ventured to Disney World to participate in the Disney Half or Full Marathons. Some were even Goofy enough to do both. Highlights from the weekend include...

• Dinner and fireworks at EPCOT featuring a visit from UD President Dr. Curran
• A visit to Give Kids the World Village to meet Elijah and his family
• Running over 1,000 miles in 2 days through the Walt Disney World parks

 This year, Distance 4 Dreams raised $5,400 and was able to grant not one, but two wishes!

                                                                Elijah          Valentina
                                                                4 Age          Age  6

                                          Disney World  Wish          Wish  Shopping Spree

                           Elijah traveled to Give Kids the          Valentina loves dancing,

               World Village in January and met D4D           singing, and taking pictures.
                          in Florida. He is featured on our          During her shopping spree,
                                           Wish Granting page.          she plans on getting new
                                                                                    clothes, toys, and games and
                                                                                     will also enjoy lunch or dinner
                                                                                     with her family and a limo ride!

 Way to go, D4D! 2010-2011 is in the books! Thanks for a magical year!

Dodgeball Domination

D4D members have proven themselves to be succesfull runners and phenomenal wish granters over the years.  Recently, however, D4D took on a new challenege.  One never before attempted by any Dreamer big or small, young or old...

INTRAMURAL DODGEBALL

On Tuesday nights this fall, D4D members skillfully (and with a little bit of luck) executed the 5 D's of dodgeball:  Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, and Dodge.  After countless thrilling dodgeball matches throughout the season, this team of Dreamers came out on top in the tournament.  They posted D4D's first ever intramural championship...and did it in undefeated fashion!

D4D's impressive dodgeball record didn't go without notice.  UD Quickly published an article about the team during the first week of December 2010.  Click here to read the article!  You may have to scroll down a little.   

A 5k Works Up an Appetite for Pancakes...

Our two biggest fundraisers are in the books!

On Saturday, September 18, D4D held it's 3rd annual Minnie 5k.  Over 100 runners and walkers lined up at ArtStreet for the start of "most fun you can run on campus."  Participants took a 3.1 mile journey through UD's campus to the beat of Disney tunes.  The day ended with awards being presented to the top 5 male and female runners as well as the Best Dressed individual and group (pictured to the right).  Congratulations to all of our finishers!  Results can be seen here.

Two short weeks later on Parents' Weekend, Dreamers spent their mornings flipping flapjacks at our annual Pancake Breakfast.  This year we had our biggest turnout ever!  Over 580 students, parents, and alumni enjoyed all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, and eggs made by Distance 4 Dreams members.  Highlights from morning include Mickey Mouse and Route 4 sign shaped pancakes and fresh-grilled sausage.        




Between both events, D4D raised a little over $3,000! 

Thanks for supporting Distance 4 Dreams and helping to make dreams come true!

Coffee, Anyone?

Need a little bit of energy in the morning? Pour your favorite beverage into this stylish Distance 4 Dreams travel coffee mug. These 16oz stainless steel mugs with red grips feature the UD logo on one side and the Distance 4 Dreams logo on the other.

Get your energy boost while providing inspiration for a family of a child with a life-threatening illness. You can have your very own D4D travel mug for $10 or 2 for $16 (plus shipping). All proceeds go to grant the Disney wish of a child as they travel to Give Kids the World Village and the Orlando theme parks.

E-mail ud@distance4dreams.org with your contact information and desired quantity of mugs today!

(We also have some remaining red and blue aluminum water bottles. Water bottles and mugs can be mixed and matched with the 2 for $16 deal.)

Summer Celebration

July marks the half way point to Disney Marathon weekend. D4D members celebrated by gathering for a fun-filled day and night of swimming, pool volleyball, corn hole, delicious food, and s’mores. Members caught up with each other, told stories, and began looking forward to the next year of D4D!

It was an unforgettable weekend, and a great way to keep the D4D spirit alive during the summer! Many thanks to the Morris family for opening up their home to everyone and making the celebration possible!

Spring Break at Give Kids the World

A group of 18 D4D members and friends spent their spring break in a non-traditional way by volunteering at Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, FL. For four days, the volunteer “Angels” worked throughout the Village scooping ice cream at the Ice Cream Palace, conducting trains at Amberville, airbrushing tattoos at La Ti Da Spa, and playing life-size Candy Land. The group’s favorite event of the week was Kids Night Out. Each student was paired with a child for a fun-filled evening ending with Safari Double Dare, a crazy game show where every competition involved a pie in the face!

“This has been a life changing experience,” said JD Schmerge, a sophomore who went on the trip. Needless to say, he was one of many who felt this way. The group looks forward to continuing and building the trip in the years to come. Right now, they are planning an ice cream social on April 24th where all proceeds will be donated to Give Kids the World!

More D4D Campuses!

Entering year four, Distance 4 Dreams continues to get attention from new areas, including campuses interested in forming their very own groups much like Dayton and Xavier.

This is a picture from our first meeting this past week with Wittenberg. Whitnee and Lisa are both very excited to take the steps moving forward to making Distance 4 Dreams a reality on their campus. If you know anyone at Wittenberg interested in helping or joining the group, feel free to send them a message at witt@distance4dreams.org!

2009-2010 Year End Slideshow

Make sure to turn up your speakers for some great tunes as you watch

A big thank you to Kelly and Steve for this wonderful reminder of the year!

Give Kids The World Village 2010

Give Kids The World Village 2010
Disney World Marathon Weekend Trip


Congrats DREAMERS!!
YOU are all WONDERFUL! :)

D4D Makes Front Page News

Sunday Night, D4D held its annual Midnight Mile Kick-off Run, and had a very exciting night. The Midnight Mile marks the start of our 18-week Disney Full and Half Marathon training programs. The surprise for the night came with the Flyer News photographer and hopes of a highlight in the student newspaper.

This year our kickoff run had record attendance at the run and the excitement just keeps growing!

Huge thanks to the entire Flyer News team for the spotlight!
Read the Full article at Flyer News!

Hydrate for H2OPE

This year's exciting opening fundraiser is a custom branded 20oz Aluminum Sport Bottle. One side exhibits the official UD logo, while the other reminds you what you are drinking for - - H2OPE. This is not the hope that your next drink from this stylish water bottle will quench your insatiable thirst, rather a reminder of the constant H2OPE in the family members of those children who have been diagnosed with a life threatening illness. This H2OPE pulls them through the doctors vists and hospital stays, waiting for the day when everything is better.

You too, can have H2OPE. For just $10 or 2 for $16 (+shipping), you can help to grant the wish of a special family as they travel to Give Kids the World Villiage and the Orlando theme parks. Bottles will be sold in Red and Blue until each color is sold out.

Send an email to ud@distance4dreams.org with your contact information and quantity desired today to request your choice color!

Half Way To Disney Celebration

To celebrate it being the half way mark until we are running in Disney World, Distance 4 Dreams members meet for a day of swimming, volleyball, sunshine, lots of food and the enjoyment of each others company. Poolside, members had the opportunity to catch up and visit with one another while sharing laughs reminiscing about last years trip to Disney and getting excited for the year ahead! There was talk of training, the new D4D house, the 5K, pancake breakfast, and our latest fundraiser: the water bottles!

The day was thoroughly enjoyed by all. It was a great way to gear up the Distance 4 Dreams excitement for everyone, and wouldnt have been possible without the hospitality of the Morris family. Thank you for making it possible!

2008-2009 Year End Slideshow

Thank you to Kelly for putting this together for us!