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Local 'Survivor' helps a worthy cause
« on: Apr 26^th, 2007, 11:55pm »

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Local 'Survivor' helps a worthy cause

By MISTY MAYNARD

Thursday, April 26, 2007 7:01 PM EDT

While Bobby Jon Drinkard does not consider himself a celebrity after his two-time stint on the popular CBS reality show "Survivor," he is happy to use whatever popularity he has gained from the show for a good cause.

This weekend, Drinkard, whose run on "Survivor" took him to Palau first, then Guatemala, will come to Maysville to support the Buffalo Trace Children's Advocacy Center's second annual 5K Run/Walk Against Child Abuse. Also attending is Maysville's own "Survivor," Cindy Hall, who participated in the Guatemala show with Drinkard.

Drinkard said he is happy he can play even a small part in raising awareness when it comes to child abuse, and he wants people to know that help is available.

"There is a way out," Drinkard said.

Drinkard said he is drawing from the positive momentum of his "Survivor" experience to help worthy organizations.

The ruggedly handsome two-time "Survivor" alum will arrive in Maysville today and participate in the 5K Saturday morning. A Troy, Ala. native, Drinkard said he was contacted by Missy Loving, a board member for the center, regarding the possibility of his attending the event.

Loving, who describes Drinkard as a "down to earth, big-hearted man," who is always willing to help out, grew up in the same town as him, though he was several years younger. Loving said she attended church with his grandparents, and knew Drinkard's parents.

Initially, Loving said she tried to get Drinkard for last year's event, but he was unable to make it. At the time, he was in the process of moving from Los Angeles back to Alabama and had just accepted a position as admissions counselor for Troy University, from which he graduated.

When planning began for the second 5K, Loving said she once again thought of Drinkard, and called to see if he might be free.

"I'm not much, I promise you that," Drinkard said. "But anything I can do to help."

Drinkard said he is looking forward to seeing Hall again, whom he became friends with during their time on the show.

Drinkard originally applied for the show simply because he thought he could do it. He had followed the show for some time, and decided to submit an application and tape to be considered.

Drinkard said many of his expectations for the show were founded, though he admitted conditions were tougher than he originally thought they would be.

While participating in "Survivor: Palau," Drinkard said one of the most memorable moments came when he won a challenge and spent time in a place called Jellyfish Lake. The location was the only place in the world, Drinkard said, where the jellyfish do not have stingers. He said the experience was "like a dream."

In "Survivor: Guatemala," Drinkard and his cast mates spent the first couple of days on a 12-mile hike through the jungle, a trip that took an extreme physical toll on Drinkard. Drinkard collapsed as a result, and said that is the most pain he has ever felt. The lesson from the experience: Drinkard may be tough, but Mother Nature is so much tougher.

Drinkard said the favorite part of the show was meeting the different people.

"It definitely was a positive experience," he said of "Survivor." And one he would be willing to do again, should he be invited back for a third season.

Drinkard and Hall were both survivors of another kind, but their appearance at the 5K Run/Walk is symbolic of the survivors of child abuse. Funds raised from the event benefit the Buffalo Trace Children's Advocacy Center, which offers services to victims of sexual abuse.

The center offers exams for those victims, as well as a child-friendly interview room where a forensic interviewer can speak with a child. Last year the center did about 60 exams, according to information previously provided by Director Hope Price. The center serves the Buffalo Trace area.

Price said families are never charged for the exams, and sometimes the center is not reimbursed for the cost of the exams. The yearly operating budget from the state ranges around $140,000, Price said. While the center receives donations from people during the year, the 5K Run/Walk is a way to generate additional funding to help the center.

Price has said she hopes to have 200 or more participate in the event, and so far 80 have pre-registered. Price expects a number of people to register the day of the event.

Registration for the event, which is held in April because it is Child Abuse Awareness Month, begins Saturday at 7:30 a.m., with the event starting at 8:30 a.m.

Cost of the event is $15, which includes a commemorative T-shirt for registrants. Additional T-shirts can be purchased for $15 each.

New this year is a "ghost runner" option which allows people to support the event without being actually involved in running or walking the course.

The event begins and ends at Limestone Landing in downtown Maysville. The walking course is 2 miles.

Drinkard said he is eager to see Maysville and meet everyone.

"I just appreciate Maysville having me over," he said.

For more information on the event call 606-563-0572 or toll free 877-563-0572.

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Genius
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Re: Local 'Survivor' helps a worthy cause
« Reply #1 on: Apr 28^th, 2007, 8:39am »

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Good for him. :clap:

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Re: Local 'Survivor' helps a worthy cause
« Reply #2 on: Apr 28^th, 2007, 11:38am »

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Cheers for Bobby Jon and Cindy! =)

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Re: Local 'Survivor' helps a worthy cause
« Reply #3 on: Jun 25^th, 2007, 10:53pm »

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Yay. . . get er done Cool

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Re: Local 'Survivors' help worthy causes
« Reply #4 on: Jun 26^th, 2007, 9:22pm »

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And Yau-man gets into the act as well...from the Vallejo Times-Herald.

'Survivor' star works for food
Martinez man appears at fundraiser for county food bank
By SARAH ROHRS/Times-Herald staff writer
6/25/2007

'Survivor: Fiji' competitor Yau-Man Chan appeared at the Trader Joe's booth at Sunday's Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano fundraiser, 'An Afternoon in the Admiral's Garden,' on Mare Island in Vallejo. He was proud of his performance on the show, particularly in being able to use his brain and experience to win challenges, not just braun. (Mike Jory/Times-Herald) After losing 15 pounds appearing in the reality television show "Survivor: Fiji," Yau-Man Chan of Martinez found himself the center of attention Sunday in an event celebrating fine wines, luscious strawberries and other food.
The unlikely Survivor star served wine and posed for photographs during "An Afternoon in the Admiral's Garden VII," the annual fundraiser for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano counties.

The Mare Island event drew nearly 500 people. Food Bank executive director Larry Sly said the goal was to raise at least $120,000. The funds will go to transport food, and also to buy fresh fruit and vegetables to give away with nonperishable staples, he said.

People milled around tasting tents, received a buffet luncheon and enjoyed music by Dave Gleason's Wasted Days and the Sharp Five Jazz Band. The Admiral's and Captain's mansions and nearby St. Peter's Chapel were open.

Though he's familiar to millions of television viewers, Chan said he prefers keeping a low-profile. But, he eagerly accepted an invitation to help out the food bank to which he contributes regularly, he said.

Chan's celebrity status has brought the normally shy, self-described "computer geek" into unaccustomed limelight, he said. Soon, he will appear at a "Survivors" convention which CBS is staging for die-hard fans, he said.

"I'm not normally so outgoing. I'm a geeky guy. I'm used to working alone in dark basements with computers," he joked, flashing a brilliant smile.

Chan finished fourth place out of 20 in the 14th season of the reality show in which contestants use their survival skills to try and win $1 million. As fourth-place winner he got $60,000. This season's show was filmed in Macuata, Vanua Levu, a small island

'Survivor: Fiji' competitor Yau-Man Chan appeared at the Trader Joe's booth at Sunday's Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano counties fundraiser, 'An Afternoon in the Admiral's Garden VII,' on Mare Island in Vallejo. (Mike Jory/Times-Herald) in Fiji, in about five weeks starting Oct. 30. Earl Cole was the winner.
"It's a lot harder than it looks," he said. "Every 45-minute episode is actually about 3 days. There's a lot of suffering. You are always hungry and thirsty."

Chan, 54, watched the first season of Survivor but said he rarely watches TV now. He said show producers recruited him in an effort to have more Asian and other minority contestants. He said one guiding principle was "not to do anything to embarrass my daughters," such as take off all his clothes or jeopardize his integrity. He has two teenage girls.

Originally from Malaysian Bornea, Chan currently works at University of California at Berkeley in informational technology (computers) for the college of chemistry.

He wasn't the only "honored guest" milling around the Admiral mansion lawns. Sunday's fundraiser also drew Vida Blue, former left-handed starting pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals. He lives in Tracy, and does whatever he can for the food bank, he said.

"I grew up in an unfortunate environment where I got support from programs like this. Now I'm in a position to make a difference," Blue said. The Louisiana native said he wants to use his celebrity status to help others. Besides helping the food bank, he also volunteers at a Tracy senior center.

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tattooedbeauty
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Re: Local 'Survivor' helps a worthy cause
« Reply #5 on: Jul 2^nd, 2007, 10:32pm »

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Its nice to see reality celebrities help with a good cause. They can help spread the word and get others to participate. Grin

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