The first Gordon Central Wounded Warrior Challenge raised $500 for wounded warriors this past Saturday. Coordinated and planned by brother sister duo Timber and Sam Anderson, the event was the first of its kind.

“Relief” and “rewarding” are two words both Sam and Timber say they felt as many months of hard work and planning finally came to fruition Saturday.

Hosted by Gordon Central JROTC, The event hosted approximately four teams who worked to gain sponsorships and raised $500 for the wounded warrior project.

Competing as team captain of the winning team from Red Bud Dental, was 2007 Gordon Central graduate Ashley Bunch, who says she had a great time competing in the challenge, and plans to return again to compete next year.

“My brother is in the Marine Corps and some of his friends have been aided by the wounded warrior project,” said Bunch.

The events comprising the wounded warrior challenge were events typically seen at most high school JROTC Raiders competitions and were comprised of seven events testing mental as well as physical aspects of each team.

Teams competed for the best times in seven events: the low crawl, water can carry, sand bag relay, tire flip, rope bridge, cross country rescue and tug of war.

Red Bud Dental took first place in the overall competition, after beating a team from Tolbert Elementary, as well as two Gordon Central JROTC teams. In addition to the four teams who competed, representatives from the Army National Guard recruiting office were in attendance as well as members of the Adairsville JROTC units.

Both Timber and Sam say they would like to see the event become an annual fundraising opportunity to help the wounded warriors. Because Sam is a junior and Timber is a sophomore, there are high hopes the event will be bigger and better including more events and more teams.

“This year has been a sort of trial run,” said Sam, who says he hopes the challenge becomes an annual community event.

In addition to the sponsors who supported the teams in the challenge, t-shirts designed by Sam and Timber were sold to also aid in benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project.

For more information on how you can help support Sam and timber in their seemingly contagious desire to help their fellow soldiers visit the Wounded Warrior Project website, wounded warrior project.org.