Kids Are Big Winners as Diamond Rio's 'Team Rio' Scores $20K for Big Brothers Big Sisters

NASHVILLE, TN. (Arista Nashville) - Arista Nashville supergroup Diamond Rio completed its first annual 'Team Rio' initiative this past Saturday, as bandmembers Marty Roe and Jimmy Olander, along with a host of volunteer runners & walkers, participated in Nashville's 13.1-mile Country Music 1/2 Marathon, raising funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. Team Rio pledges collectively netted over $20,000 for the charity.

As Big Brothers Big Sisters National Ambassadors since 1995, Rio has long been a major supporter of the organization, which is a primary beneficiary of the annual Arby's Charity Tour Nashville Hosted by Diamond Rio. Team Rio marked an all-new fundraising effort, with participants training both individually and collectively since late last year.

Olander clocked in at 1:50:11 for the 13.1-mile endeavor, while Roe crossed the finish line at 2:05:54. It was a chilly, overcast Saturday morning as the raced kicked off at 7 AM from Nashville's Centennial Park. Looking back on the morning, Roe commented with a smile, 'My most memorable moment of the race was when I was passed by a guy in a pink tutu ... that felt good.'

As an additional fundraiser, beginning Friday, Big Brothers Big Sisters will launch a two-week E-Bay auction including autographed Team Rio signage, as well as racewear from Marty and Jimmy.

Team Rio will race again next year, and any volunteer participants interested in joining the 2006 team can e-mail [email protected] to receive information and updates.
Diamond Rio's longtime work on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, as well as many other causes and organizations, has, to date, generated over half a million dollars for charity.