Just to let everybody know, that this past weekend was a huge success. Rocky and the entire staff at Capone's made us feel at home - made sure we were taken care of throughout this entire labor of love. I would like to personally thank Rocky for everything - he is one of the best people you will find in our game!
The Run
I started the run on Saturday morning and averaged 30 racks per hour for most of the day. After the initial 8 hours, it began to be a mental game. The balls were going in more on the break, and my back and my legs were screaming. I started developing blisters on my feet by the end of the first 12 hours, but I just blocked it out. Brandon and his entire family came by to cheer me on, as well as the entire Ladies Spirit Tour. I slowed down at some points during the late evening hours to conserve my energy. When I stopped on Saturday evening, I had pocketed 5090 balls, operating at a moderate pace for most of the last 2 hours. When I was done, I hurt so bad that I didn't know if I was going to be able to bend down to shoot the next day.. so I said a prayer before I went to sleep and took some Alieve.
Sunday
On Sunday morning I felt great - a little sore in my back - but I was re-energized and ready to go. The first 2 hours on Sunday morning I cleared 65 racks, and battling the pain became more intense. For most of the day I dealt with the blisters on my hands and the intense pain in my arms, legs, and back. Brandon was walking around the table with me telling me which balls to shoot (Roberta Case got some awesome pictures of that - I will post them when I get them from her). There was also a young girl named Hailiee that donated her hair to Locks of Love. She was about 6 or 7 years old - and it was so touching watching her smile the entire time they cut her hair!
By 9 PM we knew that there was no way I would miss the 10,000 balls goal - I slowed down my pace to about 25-26 Racks per hour (because my a$$ felt like it was ready to fall off my body) and at 11:25 I pocketed ball 10,000. I had time for one more rack - maybe two - got it to 10,020 - and broke down my cue. My girlfriend (Shirley) is just as tired and sore as I am - she was with me the entire time and racked the balls 668 times... her hands and her nails are a mess from removing the balls from the pockets constantly for 2 days - without her help and encouragement and expert racking skills, I would have never reached my goal.
Now its time to do you part
Our goal was to raise $1000 from the online billiard community. As of this moment we have only raised $375. We are asking for people to give what they can from their hearts to this family that is facing extraordinary medical bills in an attempt to help cure their little boy. I spent a lot of time with Brandon, and his entire family this weekend. We spoke while I was shooting non stop, and they are extremely grateful for any help that they receive. Please show your support - and show the world that our community has their heart in the right place. Here is the link.
Contribute the Brandon Amato Fundraiser
We will be accepting donations for this event until November 12. Thank you to everybody that has donated thus far!
Thanks to everybody
In closing I would like to personally thank Louie Smith, Roberta Case, Heather Barkley, Helene Caulkin, Debbie Schjodt, PoolHallMaven, Rocky, and all of the LST players and fans that came over to cheer me on, helped rack the balls, and showed their support for me and the entire Amato family for the entire weekend. I was asked last night if I would ever do this to my body again. I can't walk, my back is on fire, my hands and feet are blistered - I feel like I was run over by a train ... but if you give me a cause I would do this as often as I possibly could - and I mean that!
The Run
I started the run on Saturday morning and averaged 30 racks per hour for most of the day. After the initial 8 hours, it began to be a mental game. The balls were going in more on the break, and my back and my legs were screaming. I started developing blisters on my feet by the end of the first 12 hours, but I just blocked it out. Brandon and his entire family came by to cheer me on, as well as the entire Ladies Spirit Tour. I slowed down at some points during the late evening hours to conserve my energy. When I stopped on Saturday evening, I had pocketed 5090 balls, operating at a moderate pace for most of the last 2 hours. When I was done, I hurt so bad that I didn't know if I was going to be able to bend down to shoot the next day.. so I said a prayer before I went to sleep and took some Alieve.
Sunday
On Sunday morning I felt great - a little sore in my back - but I was re-energized and ready to go. The first 2 hours on Sunday morning I cleared 65 racks, and battling the pain became more intense. For most of the day I dealt with the blisters on my hands and the intense pain in my arms, legs, and back. Brandon was walking around the table with me telling me which balls to shoot (Roberta Case got some awesome pictures of that - I will post them when I get them from her). There was also a young girl named Hailiee that donated her hair to Locks of Love. She was about 6 or 7 years old - and it was so touching watching her smile the entire time they cut her hair!
By 9 PM we knew that there was no way I would miss the 10,000 balls goal - I slowed down my pace to about 25-26 Racks per hour (because my a$$ felt like it was ready to fall off my body) and at 11:25 I pocketed ball 10,000. I had time for one more rack - maybe two - got it to 10,020 - and broke down my cue. My girlfriend (Shirley) is just as tired and sore as I am - she was with me the entire time and racked the balls 668 times... her hands and her nails are a mess from removing the balls from the pockets constantly for 2 days - without her help and encouragement and expert racking skills, I would have never reached my goal.
Now its time to do you part
Our goal was to raise $1000 from the online billiard community. As of this moment we have only raised $375. We are asking for people to give what they can from their hearts to this family that is facing extraordinary medical bills in an attempt to help cure their little boy. I spent a lot of time with Brandon, and his entire family this weekend. We spoke while I was shooting non stop, and they are extremely grateful for any help that they receive. Please show your support - and show the world that our community has their heart in the right place. Here is the link.
Contribute the Brandon Amato Fundraiser
We will be accepting donations for this event until November 12. Thank you to everybody that has donated thus far!
Thanks to everybody
In closing I would like to personally thank Louie Smith, Roberta Case, Heather Barkley, Helene Caulkin, Debbie Schjodt, PoolHallMaven, Rocky, and all of the LST players and fans that came over to cheer me on, helped rack the balls, and showed their support for me and the entire Amato family for the entire weekend. I was asked last night if I would ever do this to my body again. I can't walk, my back is on fire, my hands and feet are blistered - I feel like I was run over by a train ... but if you give me a cause I would do this as often as I possibly could - and I mean that!
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