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‘Spin-A-Thon' Raises Donations For Wounded Warrior Project
(January 5, 2011) |
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| CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE WARHORSE, Iraq – Deployed troops
and U.S. personnel, serving at Contingency Operating Base
Warhorse, raised money for the Wounded Warrior Project
during a “Spin-A-Thon” event at the Cash Gym, Dec. 25. |
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Terry Prime planned and organized
the Spin-a-Thon, hosting 26 volunteers, each taking turns
peddling two stationary exercise bikes to raise donations.
The Wounded Warrior Project, a Veterans Affairs-accredited
organization listed with the Combined Federal Campaign, is a
charity designed to counsel and help wounded service members
return to the workforce after their military service, said
Prime.
“They offer a variety of programs geared toward helping
individuals get back into life, Prime explained. “Often an
injured service member will be faced with life altering
things in their life, and the Wounded Warrior Project is
there to help get them through it.
Beginning at noon, Christmas Day, volunteers divided eight
hours into 30-minute blocks, peddling and switching out |
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Sgt. David Alsup, a current operations sergeant with the 66th Engineer Company, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and Pfc. Christian Perez-Silva, a systems maintainer and integrator, 185th Military Intelligence Company, 2nd AAB, 25th Inf. Div., ride stationary cycles at the Cash Gym at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Diyala province, Iraq Dec. 25,
2010. The two soldiers joined 24 other service members in riding stationary cycles as part of a Christmas Day "Spin-a-Thon" to raise awareness and donations for the Wounded Warrior Project. The participants raised $1,000 to assist wounded veterans on the road to recovery.
Photo by Spc. Robert Michael England |
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partners in groups of two. The participants solicited
donations from patrons visiting the gym. |
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Prime, the Air Force Weather Team non-commissioned officer
in charge, attached to 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th
Infantry Division, supporting Operation New Dawn, said he
felt the holiday season was the best time to host the event.
“I chose Christmas as a day to hold this event because it's
obviously the biggest day of giving and can't think of a
more worthy cause to give to our brothers and
sisters-in-arms who have been injured defending our
country,” said Prime, who is assigned to 22nd Expeditionary
Weather Squadron.
Prime also volunteered as a rider, dedicating his
performance to a more selfless purpose.
“Over the past couple of years, I have grown a bit tired of
training and racing just for personal benefit,” he said. “I
decided I wanted to start giving back.”
“I chose the Wounded Warrior Project because I was inspired
by a lot of the stories of individuals overcoming obstacles
in their life from injuries sustained while they were in the
military, he said. “This is my way to give back.”
Pfc. Robert Rankin, a Fredrick, Md.-native, from the 185th
Military Intelligence Company, 2nd AAB, 25th Inf., Div.,
said he heard about organizations raising money for wounded
warriors and always wanted to do his part.
“My sergeant told me about this event,” he said. “There's
been stories of soldiers getting injured and overcoming
those things with help by organizations like the Wounded
Warrior Project.”
Rankin said he volunteered for the event because he wanted
to participate for a good cause and give back to the
military's wounded service members.
“Knowing your making a difference for another service member
is what makes me do this,” he said. “You're only giving up a
little of your time, but that time is going to help someone
out there, possibly a soldier, so it's the right thing to
do.”
Event participants raised $1,000 donated by individuals who
visited the gymnasium on Christmas Day.
“We raised a sizable donation for the organization, which is
going to go a long way to helping our wounded warriors in
the military,” Prime said. “The Wounded Warrior Project does
a lot to help injured service members, so it was great to
give back to them today.” |
By Army SSgt. Ricardo Branch
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
Copyright 2010 | |
Provided
through DVIDS
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