ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 19, 1995 TAG: 9512190052
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S. D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
To radio disc jockey Slam Duncan, 93 seemed like a perfect goal for a Toys for Tots campaign to collect bicycles for needy children. That's the FM dial number of the radio station, J93 (WJLM), where he works.
But the radio station would have to move to the AM dial to count for the more than 600 bicycles that were donated from Friday to Monday.
"We didn't realize the support the community was going to give," Toys for Tots co-coordinator Sgt. Neil Gaudreau said. The U.S. Marine Reserve sponsors Toys for Tots.
Duncan, along with Toys for Tots co-coordinator Staff Sgt. Steve Gardner, were hoisted 93 feet in a in a trailer at Tanglewood Mall and refused to come down until at least 93 bicycles were donated.
"We figured we'd get the 93" and maybe double that, said Russ Brown, J93 operations manager.
"That was probably the largest promotional and response that J93 has ever had," he said, adding that it also may have been the largest ever in the Roanoke-area market.
During the promotion, the radio station received calls from Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke; a representative from the Carolina Panthers; and Miss Virginia, Amber Medlin.
"Literally by the time we went on the radio, the phones started ringing and people started lining up" to make contributions, Duncan said.
By Friday afternoon, Duncan said, they reached the goal of 93 bicycles.
The radio station solicited donations of bicycles and money from the public.
Gaudreau said they raised more than $11,000, from 4-year-olds giving pennies to local companies donating more than $1,000.
Gaudreau said they recruited truck drivers to purchase bicycles with the donated money and bring them to the Tanglewood Mall parking lot.
The bicycles will be distributed at the Salvation Army's distribution center at the Plaza of Roanoke-Salem from Wednesday to Friday.
"This is probably the biggest Toys for Tots [campaign] the Roanoke Valley has ever seen as far as visibility and participation," Gaudreau said.
Individuals or businesses still may donate to Toys for Tots. For more information call 366-7777.
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRADY/Staff. J93 (WJLM) disc jockey Slam Duncanby CNBstayed in this recreation
vehicle for 75 hours. color.