Rose Rolfsen Needs Your Help

To Raise $80K by Her 80th Birthday

By Melani Johnson

 

Rose Rolfsen has participated in the 10K walking/running portion of the St. Anthony’s Triathlon in St. Petersburg, Florida since 2005.   She has raised over $50,000 so far for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, but she is not satisfied.

 

Rolfsen has challenged herself this year with a bold plan she calls her 80 x 80 Program. Her plan is to raise an additional $30,000 to complete her goal of $80,000 by the time she turns 80 next May.

 

Seven years ago Rolfsen traveled to St. Petersburg to watch her youngest daughter Beth compete in her first St. Anthony’s Triathlon. Seeing the joy on the racers’ faces as they crossed the finish line, Rolfson was inspired to take a role in the effort. “I saw people from all walks of life; some young some old, some short some tall, some walking some running and I even saw some elderly in the race using walkers! It was truly amazing.”

 

Completing The Race

Rolfsen was eager to get involved so she and Beth decided they would complete a race together the next year. She joined the Atlanta Chapter of Team In Training which is a fundraising arm for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.   Daughter Beth was already a part of the team.   She trained for the nine-tenths-of-a-mile swim and the 25-mile bike race while her mom trained for the 10K walk/run.

 

Rose Rolfsen’s first goal was to raise $750 and each year her goal increased. Her son Dr. Mike Rolfsen actually came up with the idea of raising $80K by the time she turns 80.“I am the mother of seven and have 20 grandchildren. I have been so blessed with a healthy family who has never had to struggle with any life threatening diseases. I feel as though I owe something to someone. So I chose to join a team and take part in the St. Anthony’s Triathlon.”

 

To the 40 other members in the Atlanta Chapter Rolfsen is know as Mamma. Near the completion of each triathlon, Rolfsen’s team mates motivate her to finish the race by cheering “Go Mamma!”

 

“My team is so great!” she said.   “They cheer for me and give me the adrenaline to keep on going.”


Ways To Help

Rolfsen is motivated and confident she can complete her 80 x 80 Program, but she can’t do it alone. With help from the South Baton Rouge community she believes it is more than possible.

 

Those who want to help can mail a check made out to Leukemia Lymphoma to Rose Rolfsen at 4523 Drusilla Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70809 or donate online at http://pages.teamintraining.org/gatugtri10rrolfsen.

 

Also, five people can donate a minimum of $100 to Leukemia Lymphoma and Rolfsen will teach them her 54-year-old “fool proof” recipe for refrigerated roll dough at her home. Interested parties can email Rolfsen at rose.rolfsen@cox.net.

 

“By the time of the triathlon I WILL have reached my goal!” she said.   Go Mamma!!!