A local organization is looking to give back to first responders and military veterans through outdoor adventures.
Wings for Our Heroes provides hunts and outdoor adventures for veterans and first responders who have been affected by their time spent in the line of duty, including anything from injuries and disabilities to those suffering from PTSD.
The non-profit organization used the money from their first fundraiser to purchase a motorized chair that will assist those participating. The goal is to bring heroes together to relate to each other’s experiences and to give them a chance to participate in activities that they may have thought they could never do again.
“When everyone else is running away and they are running towards, they are our heroes,” Founder, Mike Steele said.
Mike and Lori Steele know the sacrifice it takes to serve the country. Mike served in the U.S. Army for 10 years and served another 10 in the National Guard. Now the Steele’s are trying to give something back to their veteran brothers and sisters.
“It feels great to really give back to the personnel that gave to us for like 20 years and still to this day… my son is active duty right now in the Air Force, so we’re still a full military family and supporting our country,” Steele said.
So far, WOH has put on a hunt for another organization and it was seeing one of the participant’s experiences there that inspired them to make this happen.
“Just watching him come to life from when he got here, where he could barely ambulate, to where he is out there yucking it up, you know, high fiving his buddies, his comrades that just won me over right there and then,” Steele said. “We had to go forward with it.”
The organization is currently taking applications for participants on their website. The hunts are free to those who participate.
If you’d like to donate or participate, visit the link below: