Trying to add $sendtoname to message - php

Question

Right now I have this:
$sendtoname = "John";
$sendtoemail = "john#email.com";
And this:
$message = "Dear ".$sendtoname;
$message .= ",<br><br>A new volunteer has registered for your ".$_REQUEST['pickevent'];
So that I receive a message that says,
"Dear John,
A new volunteer has registered for your event..."
But "John" does not appear; it shows up blank. How do I correct this?
EDIT :
Ok, here is my full code:
<?php
if (get_magic_quotes_gpc()) {
function stripslashes_deep($value)
{
$value = is_array($value) ?
array_map('stripslashes_deep', $value) :
stripslashes($value);
return $value;
}
$_POST = array_map('stripslashes_deep', $_POST);
$_GET = array_map('stripslashes_deep', $_GET);
$_COOKIE = array_map('stripslashes_deep', $_COOKIE);
$_REQUEST = array_map('stripslashes_deep', $_REQUEST);
}
//send an email from the server TO YOUR EMAIL
$fromname = $_REQUEST['firstname'];
$fromemail = $_REQUEST['email'];
$subject = "NMVN EVENT REGISTRATION";
$message = "Dear ".$sendtoname;
$message .= ",<br><br>A new volunteer has registered for your ".$_REQUEST['pickevent'];
$message .= " event. Below is a copy of their registration: ".$_REQUEST['blank'];
$message .= " <br><br><br> <b>First Name:</b> ".$_REQUEST['firstname'];
$message .= " <br> <b>Last Name:</b> ".$_REQUEST['lastname'];
$message .= " <br> <b>Cell Phone:</b> ".$_REQUEST['cellphone'];
$message .= " <br> <b>Alternative Phone:</b> ".$_REQUEST['altphone'];
//This is the person who is going to receive the email
switch ($_REQUEST["pickevent"])
{
case 'Heart Walk 4/20/13':
$sendtoname = "Bob";
$sendtoemail = "bob#email.com";
break;
case 'Bowling Fundraiser 5/4/13':
$sendtoname = "John";
$sendtoemail = "john#email.com";
break;
}
//Email header stuff
$headers = "MIME-Version: 1.0\r\n";
$headers .= "Content-type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1\r\n";
$headers .= "From: $fromname <$fromemail>\r\n";
$headers .= "To: $sendtoname <$sendtoemail>\r\n";
$headers .= "Bcc: me#myemail.com" . "\r\n";
$headers .= "Reply-To: $fromname <$fromemail>\r\n";
$headers .= "X-Priority: 3\r\n";
$headers .= "X-MSMail-Priority: Normal\r\n";
$headers .= "X-Mailer: Created by Mike Gandy";
//this next line creates and sends the email
mail($sendtoemail, $subject, $message, $headers);
?>
The form is responding correctly otherwise, whereas it is sent to the correct person and BCC'd to me. All the other messages work fine, too. The only thing that doesn't work is that the $sendtoname doesn't appear in the message. It appears in the header just fine though.

Answer 1

Move your switch to before $message, as you are trying to use $sendtoname before it is declared.
//This is the person who is going to receive the email
switch ($_REQUEST["pickevent"])
{
case 'Heart Walk 4/20/13':
$sendtoname = "Bob";
$sendtoemail = "bob#email.com";
break;
case 'Bowling Fundraiser 5/4/13':
$sendtoname = "John";
$sendtoemail = "john#email.com";
break;
}
$message = "Dear ".$sendtoname;
$message .= ",<br><br>A new volunteer has registered for your ".$_REQUEST['pickevent'];
$message .= " event. Below is a copy of their registration: ".$_REQUEST['blank'];
$message .= " <br><br><br> <b>First Name:</b> ".$_REQUEST['firstname'];
$message .= " <br> <b>Last Name:</b> ".$_REQUEST['lastname'];
$message .= " <br> <b>Cell Phone:</b> ".$_REQUEST['cellphone'];
$message .= " <br> <b>Alternative Phone:</b> ".$_REQUEST['altphone'];