Thank you to the Forestry Forum for your vailient effort.

[Jeff]

First I want to thank everyone for your support and taking time out of your day each day for several days to help me try and win a contest. I've been avoiding saying anything, as I didn't want to disappoint anyone going into the holiday weekend, but i have had contact with the contest people and figure its time to just put it out there.  :-\  I'll just paste what I have from the emails.

Thanks again everyone.

Good morning Jeff,

Yes, you can free to tell family and friends. We will be announcing your win on Tuesday following the Memorial Day holiday. Have a great weekend!

Antonio

Sent from my iPhone

On May 24, 2013, at 10:02 AM, "Jeff Brokaw" <jeff@forestryforum.com> wrote:

> Antonio,
> Is it appropriate yet for me to tell people I have won?  I've not heard from the PR Manager yet or have seen anything on the LifeGoesStrong website, so I've been keeping it to myself other than my close family. I'd like to thank the people that voted for me for their support, and let them know I was selected, but I don't want to do it prematurely.
>
> Thank you for your guidance,
> Jeff Brokaw
>
> On 5/22/2013 4:36 PM, Hawthorne, Antonio (NBCUniversal) wrote:
>>
>> <mime-attachment.png>
>>
>> Hi Jeff:
>>
>> Congratulations! I just wanted to confirm with you that you have been selected as our grand winner of LifeGoesStrong's Live Healthier, Live Better $10,000 Contest, which took place from March 25 – May 17, 2013.
>>
>> Your grand prize is a $10,000 cash prize!
>>
>> Our PR Manager, may reach out to you if she has not already about publicizing your win. Please work with her, so we continue to spread your story.
>>
>> In the meantime please provide me with a mailing address, so I can mail out the necessary paperwork you will have to complete before we can send you your prize!
>>
>> Congrats again!
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Antonio and the Life Goes Strong team

;) ;) ;)
8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

[giant splinter]

Wow Jeff,
You took this one to the limit ................. CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!!! smiley_clapping

[Jeff]

The very best part of this, is I am able to do what was the goal the entire time, to write a big fat check for RETT's Syndrome research as promised. Something I would have never been able to without the contest. The first thing I did when I found out I won, which was actually a couple days ago, was to Call Brynn's mom and let her know. That was a great feeling. 

[RynSmith]

How completely AWESOME!  Not only do you get to support Brynn and RETT's research, but you're supporting yourself by being healthy!  Well done and CONGRATULATIONS!

smiley_clapping

8)  8)  8)

[beenthere]

Congratulations on the big win Jeff. For you as well as Brynn

[fishpharmer]

Fantastic! 8) 8)

[Chuck White]

Absolutely wonderful Jeff, congratulations!

[Shotgun]

Great news, Jeff!  You did a great job as Santa, you wrote a great essay for the contest, you have great intentions, and you have a great bunch of supporters.  So happy that you won.  Although I'm not the least bit suprised.  Way to go!!!  Congratulations!  Now you have two prizes, less weight and more money.

Norm

[Chuck White]

Congratulations Jeff!

[Warbird]

That's wonderful news, Jeff.  Set some aside for taxes!

[thecfarm]

I knew you would win.  :D  Congrats and than some.

[crtreedude]

Wonderful Jeff, Congrats!

[wwsjr]

Congratulations Jeff, well deserved.

[Fla._Deadheader]

 smiley_clapping smiley_turkey_dancing _grin _grin

[Riggs]

Great to hear, Congrats Jeff!

[isawlogs]

 8) 8)  Congratulation Jeff, your the man.  8) 8)

[moosehunter]

That is just COOOOL!!!

[Jim_Rogers]

Great news    smiley_clapping

[hillbillyhogs]

THAT IS GREAT!!!

[Jeff]

By the time I make the donation to RETTS and take out for taxes, I'm hoping to have enough left to do the site prep needed for the building we want to put up some day that will be storage/shop as well as a rain shelter/pavilion for the Forestry Forum pigroasts.

[Furu]

Congratulations on your win!!  It will benefit a great cause as you planned.

[Papa1stuff]

Congratulations smiley_clapping smiley_clapping

[OlJarhead]

AWESOME!  Congrats!!!

[Andy White]

Jeff
Congratulations on a worthwhile win!!!   We knew you could do it.      Andy

[Roxie]

So happy for you!   8)

[Bogue Chitto]

WAY TO GO JEFF!!! smiley_clapping smiley_blue_bounce smiley_bouncing_pinky smiley_flipping smiley_hollywood_cool

[bill m]

Jeff, There is no one that is more deserving of this then you. The hard work and dedication you have shown in everything you do is unmatched by anyone. Congratulations.

[SwampDonkey]

Well there now. I bet he's 3 chest sizes bigger now, proud as a peacock. :D

[justallan1]

Way to go, Jeff.

Allan

[Stephen1]

Congratulations!!!

[Holmes]

Great news Jeff.   I will admit it has put a  on my face.    Well done to all..

[ely]

well, i didnt lose one bit of weight in all this, but i am proud of what you have done boss, and happy i was able to be a part of it here on the FF,. thank you and congrats.

[T Welsh]

Awesome Jeff, the power of the people have spoken,aka the Forestry Forum. Tim

[loggah]

Jeff, Your the man !!!!  Don

[Sonofman]

Woot! Woot! Woot! It is so great to see someone win that you know will put the prize mony to a good cause. Congrats Jeff.

[Norm]

Congratulations Jeff!!!

[customdave]

Right on & congrats Jeff  8) 8)


                           Dave

[Ron Scott]

Well done! With great effort.

[WDH]

Tom would say, "This is a fine development."

[isaacpopp]

Congrats Jeff! Definitely a wise and admirable use of the prize money. 

[SPIKER]

Great that ya won!    8)   How ya been feeling getting along much better with a better kick in your step!?!?

Mark

[Corley5]

Congratulations  ;D 8) ;D 8) ;D 8) ;D 8) 8) 8)

[ellmoe]

   Who going to play Santa now? :-\   :laugh:  Great news, it pays to have a few forestry friends!
Mark

[redbeard]

Great news Jeff !  Congratulations

[sandhills]

Great job Jeff!  Keep up the good work, all of us here benefit greatly because of it!  Now we just gotta win that run  8) 8) 8)

[WmFritz]

Good things happen to good people.

Nice job Jeff!  smiley_clapping

[mesquite buckeye]

You are a good guy, Jeff. Glad you won. ;D

[Left Coast Chris]

Very well done and very deserving.  Its a good day!

[Howdy]

Delightful news, and well deserved.

You believed the words you wrote, kept it simple and clean, speaking from the heart.  Then you let us share in the endeavor by inviting us to vote.  We all feel a sense of accomplishment in your efforts. 
pc_smiley   smiley_applause
Good job my friend.

[Nomad]

     You earned it, you deserved it, and you got it.  Doesn't always happen like that.  Congrats!!!

[Cedarman]

Great story!!  Good ending or is it a start?!!  Keep up the good work!!  Congratulations!!!

[r.man]

Congratulations and well done.

[Magicman]

Congratulations on a well deserved Win.  Your entry spoke from your heart and touched everyone else's heart.   

[Bill Gaiche]

Congrats Jeff. Good use of the winnings. bg

[Mark K]

Great job Jeff!! Congratulations

[ET]

Super congrats on winning!!!  I'll have to google Harrison, Mi to see how far you are from northern Ohio as I would certainly come up to help construct that rain shelter.

[Banjo picker]

Good going there Jeff.. You threw me off with that smilley you used.  Banjo

[Rooster]

Congrats on winning the contest and "paying it forward"...seems like a common theme here on the FF.

I hope that you can maintain your new lifestyle so that you can enjoy life more and stick around for a long time!!!

Peace,

Rooster

[Jeff]

After a celebratory night out last night with our friends the Daggers (Brynn's grand parents), eating all you can eat fish at the bar and a great big blizzard at D.Q., it felt like I was carrying a picnic basket the entire morning. ;) Jill Dagger threatened me if I didn't get back on the program this morning and I fear her as much as Tammy, so back to serious training for the next 6 weeks. I'd like to get my 5k time down under 30 minutes by Win for Brynn day. Something to work towards eh? Running 5k this morning didn't seem like near as big a deal as it did just a week ago. This morning was the final day of the coach to 5k training program. I made it through the entire program without a fail on any step, which to me is a real wonder.  I'll now start on either the 5k improver training, or the 5 to 10k program to keep things progressing. 

Here is a link to this mornings stats from the school track where I went and ran. Not safe to run anywhere else on the roads today due to the massive amount of yard sale cruisers out there this weekend.
http://www.rundouble.com/?page=map/7360030/tX4AZbE0Yx

Thanks again everyone!

[clww]

Good things to those that drop the weight! 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

[maple flats]

Congratulations, That's a win-win for sure.

[Hilltop366]

Good on ya Jeff!!! Looks like it's a win win win situation to me.

Any one who has the will power and determination to do what you have done for yourself and others around you has earned my up most respect.

Sounds like your going to need a pillow for the santa suit next time!

[Ernie]

Great news Jeff, well deserved!!!

[ibseeker]

Great news! Glad to hear you are getting healthy and that you're able to help support the research.

[millwright]

Well done Jeff, I am sure it was well worth the effort.

[coxy]

way to go   smiley_clapping  and thanks for all you have done for the forestry forum

[DoubleD]

 smiley_clapping

8) 8) 8)
I am glad you won it did put a smile on my face

[Stamp]

Wowza!  This is awesome!  They couldn't have picked a better person to win.  Congrats on getting healthy and being able to support a great cause at the same time! 

Also kudos to our wonderful Forum friends, who were able to vote early and often to put Jeff in the finals!

[Sprucegum]

Congrats  8)

If you can run 5k you are a winner already  8)

[Jeff]

This morning it was raining, so I went and ran in the civic center. No distance recorded in the civic center as gps won't work in there because of the building and the size. My goal today was simply to run uninterrupted for 45 minutes. I actually stopped after 50 because I had someone start talking to me that was walking. 

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

Wowza!  This is awesome!  They couldn't have picked a better person to win.  Congrats on getting healthy and being able to support a great cause at the same time! 

Also kudos to our wonderful Forum friends, who were able to vote early and often to put Jeff in the finals!

I voted so many times that I started to feel like a Chicago Politician!

Herb

[Jeff]

They are supposed to make the official announcement today, according to that email I got. I'm hoping they will let me know how the voting actually counted out. I know we are all wondering if we kicked some serious tail. :D

[Leigh Family Farm]

Good going there Jeff.. You threw me off with that smilley you used.  Banjo

That makes two of us... I was prepping myself for bad news. CONGRATS JEFF!

[grweldon]

Awesome Win!  I respect your faithfulness and integrity!  We are ALL happy for you!

[Jeff]

The gal that urged me to enter the contest (Lou's daughter-in-law Chantelle), just posted on my facebook page that they has officially announced the winner on the contest website.  They did it without any input from me, so a couple things are not quite accurate, but close enough! :D  Thanks again everyone!

http://health.lifegoesstrong.com/article/meet-winners-our-live-healthier-live-better-contest

[dukndog]

Congrats Jeff!!
Makes me think of this;

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25

[Ron Scott]

Well done!!

[beenthere]

Great story. And to the sponsors, great too! .. as now I won't have to switch to a different brand of toothpaste.   8)

[Jeff]

Since it has been officially announced, I just sent an email to the only contact I have, asking if it was possible to get some of the voting stats for curiosity's sake. 

[Jeff]

Here is the reply I received asking for a vote count. I think this answer will suffice, since its probably the best we are going to get. :D
*********************
Regarding the vote count, I am not able to release how many votes (or percentage of the vote) you or any of the candidates received, but I can say you received substantially more votes than most of the semi-finalists. So kudos to you on activating your community. Hope that helps
*********************

[RynSmith]

I don't know if anyone remembers the Wonder Twin cartoon series, but when I read Jeff's most recent post I thought "Community Powers Activated!"  ;D

8)  8)  8)

[jtmccallum]

Congrats,  this is awesome  8) 8)

[customsawyer]

 8) 8)

[Tim L]

Sometimes the good guys prevail.

[OneWithWood]

A bit late to the party but I just got to say congratulations big fella!
The before and after pics are truly awesome.  Actually it is a wonder that there is room in your body for such a big heart.  You continue to be an inspiration 

[mburrow]

congratulations

[petefrom bearswamp]

I too failed to keep up with your effort
You are obviously a very motivated, caring individual
way to go!

[doctorb]

I didn't bother to follow up on this 'cause I knew you would win ;)  All of the results/announcements came when I was in Canada, so forgive my tardy congratulations.  Even if I am the last member to take heart in your victory, it's your victory that counted.  Way to go.  (I think we blitzed them inthe voting!).