A Little Walk About,, The Denali Challenge

JJ_BPK · 06-23-2012, 08:37

Go Team..

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5 Wounded Warriors
4 Good Legs
3 Wars
2 Generations
1 Mountain

In June, a team of five severely wounded warriors will challenge themselves to summit Denali (Mt. McKinley) in Alaska, at 20,320’ the highest mountain in North America. Team Warfighter Sports will test their limits while raising awareness of the abilities of our nation’s wounded warriors.

The Denali Challenge climb symbolizes the difficult climb wounded warriors and their families face through hospitalization and rehabilitation. The Denali Challenge benefits Warfighter Sports, a program of Disabled Sports USA, an organization that has served severely wounded warriors since 1967. Warfighter Sports offers sports rehabilitation for severely wounded warriors in military hospitals and communities across the U.S. Warfighter Sports rebuilds lives through sports by improving self-confidence, promoting independence and uniting families through shared healthy activities. Over 5,600 wounded warriors and families have been served since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began.

The Denali Challenge will begin just after Memorial Day to honor the sacrifices of America ’s fallen heroes and ends one month later right before Independence Day, a day that celebrates the freedoms past and current service members have won for America.

Cheer on their efforts by pledging your support! Funds raised will ensure that wounded are offered sports rehabilitation programs at no cost to them or their families.

CBS interview from the mountain:

Wounded Warriors making progress in "Denali Challenge"

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The Team:

Army Capt. Jesse Acosta (Ret.) Severely wounded by an IED in Iraq. Permanent damage to his hip, leg, back and arm. Scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2011 and twice completed a 100-mile bicycle ride and the Capital of Texas Triathlon. West Point graduate currently working on Wall Street.
Army Sgt. Kirk M. Bauer, JD (Ret.) As disabled Vietnam veteran (left above knee amputee) and the Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA for the past 29 years, at age 64, Bauer still leads an active sports life participating with wounded warriors, youth and others in skiing, biking, hiking, golf and other sports. In 2010, he led a team of all amputee veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars on a successful summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Marine Capt. David Borden (Active Duty) After losing his leg above the knee to a suicide bomb in Iraq in 2008, Captain Borden returned to combat in Afghanistan in 2011. Borden has golfed, skied and run the Army Ten Miler through Disabled Sports USA's military program.
Army Sgt. Neil Duncan (Ret.) Severely wounded in Afghanistan in 2005 by an improvised explosive device resulting in amputation of both legs. Scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2010 alongside Kirk Bauer and continues to stay active in sports.
Army Cpl. Steve Martin (Ret.)Served in the Army and Army National Guard for 8 years including assignment in Korea. Hit by an IED while on operations as a State Department contractor, with Joint US Forces Provincial Mentoring Team in Afghanistan. Martin lost both legs below the knees as a result of his injuries. After his amputations, he completed the Bataan Memorial Death March in 2011, a 26 mile marchin White Sands, NM. Steve golfs, bikes, swims and runs and has competed in triathlons.

greenberetTFS · 06-23-2012, 08:56

They certainly are an absolute inspiration for us,"Go Army-Go Marine"......................

Big Teddy