The first Ohl Strong event happened in 2016, when friends and family of the late Dr. Brent Ohl organized “A Stroll for Ohl.”
Since then, the Ohl Strong Foundation has expanded to an annual tailgate fundraiser, with this year’s event scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
This year, the group is hosting the event at a brand-new location, the Starlite Ballroom at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport. While Peggy Ohl said she’s somewhat sad that the event can’t be held in Eldridge anymore, she does feel that this may be a more central location for many attendees, since recipients of the Ohl Strong Foundation must live within a 75-mile radius of UnityPoint Rock Island.
The event will feature a meal by Matthiesen’s Catering and a cash bar, and there will be several televisions set up with B1G football games playing.
There will also be lots of activities for all ages, including a Ducks for Hope game, where participants can win prizes. There will also be a wine pull, silent auction and raffle baskets. Members of the North Scott Service Club will be on hand to do face painting. ImpactLife Blood Center will provide blood type testing and other educational resources, along with UnityPoint Health.
New this year will be a caricature artist, DrawMeBill, who will take live commissions for $10 each. Peggy Ohl said he’ll also add a splash of purple to the background, the color commemorating pancreatic cancer.
“We try to make it a celebration, and they also get a chance to meet other people that also have pancreatic cancer,” said Peggy. “And it’s not a doom and gloom.”
“This is shaping up to feel like more of a festival than previous years,” said Wayne Brimeyer. “Not that the others weren’t a fun time, but this is very family friendly.”
For Peggy, it’s hard for her to say what Brent might have thought of this event, especially the fact that it’s still going strong 10 years later.
“He would like that it’s a tailgate. I’m sure he’d be shocked that we’re sitting here doing this all these years later. I hope he would be proud. And he would be happy that we’re helping patients.”
For more information on this year’s Ohl Strong event, visit OhlStrong.org or the Ohl Strong Facebook page.