Tunnel to Towers Weekend an Emotional, Healing Adventure in NYC
Reading about the Tunnel to Towers Foundation Race (T2T), an annual event in New York City, and how it began tugs at the heartstrings of most Americans. Its background is a story that played out countless times on that fateful day, September 11, 2001. T2T is in honor of Stephen Siller, a firefighter with Squad 1 in Brooklyn, and NYC Sheep Dogs – our protectors, the men and women who serve or have served in our military and/or first responder professions – who rushed in to help those in the towers. The race route retraces Siller’s final footsteps through the tunnel to Freedom Tower and the 9/11 Memorial. When Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) learned about this race, they knew they needed to participate. With SDIA’s membership made up of Sheep Dogs, it was only natural for them to join the event to honor and support NYC and Sheep Dogs who sacrificed their lives or put their lives on...
SDIA Chapters Host Successful 2015 Patriot Day Events
On Sat., Sept. 12, SDIA Chapters held numerous Patriot Day events across the US. The National Office & Northwest Arkansas Chapter held their 5th Annual Patriot Day event at the Bentonville Municipal Airport in Bentonville, Arkansas. They enjoyed fantastic weather and a crowd of an estimated 4,000. Attendees got to meet their local Sheep Dogs, see military and first responder vehicles and aircraft, rescue demonstrations, take helicopter rides, honored those who died on September 11, 2001, and learned more about SDIA and their missions. After all was said and done, nearly $7,000 was raised for their Project Giving: Thanksgiving Meals program. To see photos from the event, visit the SDIA Facebook Album "2015 Patriot Day". The Northwest Arkansas Chapter also held their first Golf Tournament on Mon., Sept. 14, at Shadow Valley Country Club. There were 13 four-man teams participating and included 12 Combat Wounded Veterans. Fantastic support and prizes poured in...
SDIA Dominates Spartan Super in Asheville
What an amazing day! On Sat., Aug. 29, our recently chartered SDIA Western NC Chapter hosted 23 Combat Wounded Veterans and First Responders injured in the line of duty for the Spartan Super Race in Asheville, NC. In addition to their sponsored participants, more than 30 SDIA Members and supporters from across the US joined in on the race. WNC members and staff put a lot of time and effort into this event, and we could not have asked for a better effort in making this such a special event. Watching all the Warriors persevere to finish 8.5 miles and 25 obstacles was inspiring to say the least!
This is going to be an annual weekend event in WNC, so if you would like to join the team next year for some white water rafting and Spartan Race adventure racing, start making plans now.
For more exciting and motivating pictures from the
Central AR Chapter Hosts Dive to “Fearless Rock – the Underwater Adam Brown Memorial”
On Saturday, Aug 22nd, our Central Arkansas Chapter had the amazing opportunity to dive to "Fearless Rock - the Underwater Adam Brown Memorial" on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, AR. As part of this special dive, SDIA sponsored five Combat Wounded Veterans and First Responders injured in the Line of Duty. For many of those participating, it was their very first dive, and an opportunity to see the world in a whole new way.
"Fearless Rock - the Underwater Adam Brown Memorial" was placed on July 27, 2013, at Blakely Dam in Lake Ouachita in the Hot Springs, Arkansas and is accessible to both land & boat based divers. The memorial is for Chief Special Warfare Operator Adam Lee Brown, who was a US Navy SEAL and Hot Springs, Arkansas, native. Adam’s life was the subject of the book, "Fearless: The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam...
SDIA Florida Team Assists Army Veteran, Flood Victims
SDIA's newly formed Florida Team is already making a difference in their communities!
In August the Team deployed on an extended Disaster Response Mission (DRM) to help with flood ravaged areas in Pasco County. Their team of 8 rotated throughout the mission, and assisted the local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in assessing homes, as well as bringing food & supplies to flood victims, and filling over 80 sandbags for 30 homes. The Team also helped distribute 100 flood buckets (filled with cleaning supplies & materials) and mops/brooms to victims, which were donated by Trinity Lutheran Church. Refuge Church in Holiday, Florida, provided space to store the supplies. Thank you to everyone who donated time, supplies and money to ensure this DRM could help as many people as possible.
After the Team completed their DRT mission, members of the team went to work repairing the home of 76-year-old veteran Robert Baker, who served 14-years in the Army...
SDIA’s South TX Chapter Presents Service Dog to Wheelchair-Bound Veteran
In late July, SDIA's South TX Chapter had the honor of assisting with the placement of a highly-trained service dog to a veteran in need. Daniel is a Combat Wounded Army Veteran who is wheelchair-bound as a result of injuries sustained while on patrol in Iraq in October 2006. His platoon was providing security and as he checked security points, Daniel was shot in the neck and paralyzed. Because of this, he required a service dog that would be able to pull him in his wheelchair, as well as all other typical service dog skills. Enter Morgan Pierce of Performance Canine, Inc. and Kyla, an 11-month old Malinois. Morgan worked with Daniel and Kyla, and they couldn't be happier at the improvement in Daniel's quality of life. The South TX Chapter - and all of SDIA - is extremely honored to have played a small part in this match, and are excited for Daniel and Kyla. (Photos by...
SDIA Team to Run in NYC’s “Tunnel to Towers Foundation Race”
Over the past few months, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) Members have been coming together to form a team to run/walk the "Tunnel to Towers Foundation Race" (T2T) in New York City on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015. In addition to our Members, we have over 35 combat wounded veterans joining us in this race! We would love to have more of our members, volunteers and supporters from across the United States participate in this event as we prepare to launch a nationwide PTSD Awareness Campaign in 2016.
With SDIA members from all disciplines – military, law enforcement, fire & rescue, and EMS – we are more aware than most organizations of the devastating impact Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, can have on the life of a veteran or first responder injured in combat or the line of duty. Our members and their families have first-hand knowledge of the difficulties associated with PTSD. SDIA’s team running the Tunnel to Towers race will...
Don’t Miss SDIA’s 5th Annual Patriot Day Event on Sat., Sept. 12, 2015
We all see children watch with excitement and fascination when emergency vehicles race by, sirens blaring and lights flashing. To them, First Responders and Military are larger than life and true heroes. Imagine how excited they would be to sit in a First Responder vehicle, put on some Military gear and learn first-hand what their heroes do on a regular basis. Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is honored to give them this opportunity at their 5th Annual Patriot Day event on Sat., Sept. 12, 2015, from 9:00AM to 4:30PM at the Bentonville Municipal Airport. Proceeds from the event will provide funding for SDIA’s Thanksgiving Outreach program, which provides a full Thanksgiving dinner to identified Sheep Dog in Need families.
The Northwest Arkansas 2015 Patriot Day event is free to the public – thanks to Sponsors like Walmart, Propper, Zantac, Heritage Indian Motorcycles of NWA and Tyson – and will be a fun, educational day for...
SPARTAN BEAST RACE – Breckenridge, CO
On June 13th, a Team of 13 Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) members and supporters participated in the Spartan Beast Race in Breckenridge, CO. SDIA was honored to sponsor, with the support of New Creature and Spartan, two combat wounded veterans, Sgt Matt Spang (US Army) and SSgt Jose Sanchez (USMC), as they both pushed their limits on this 13-mile course.
While in Afghanistan, Sgt Spang suffered severe injuries and lost both legs below the knee. SSgt Sanchez lost one leg and suffered major injuries to his other leg while serving in Iraq. To see these young warriors push themselves through the grueling Beast course was an inspiration to everyone on the race trail.
Prior to the Beast, the furthest Sgt Spang had gone on his prosthetic legs in one outing was 200 yards. But that Saturday, he surpassed all expectations. The steep snow-covered descents were especially difficult, but with the entire team working together, all made it safely down...
Operation Texas Mud Bug – June 2015
During the first week of June, SDIA deployed three Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) to the Wimberley, Texas, area to assist with recovery efforts for those affected by flooding.
“It was a privilege and honor to help the people of Wimberley,” said SgtMaj Lance Nutt. “We met so many gracious people, all of whom touched our members’ lives as they worked hard to help these families recover from the devastating flood waters.”
The 14 SDIA members traveled from Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, and around Texas to lend a hand; it was the first disaster response deployment for many. On Days 1 & 2, the DRTs worked to clear trees and debris from 7 homes, using chainsaws and manpower. Day 3 focused on muck-out work, clearing three homes of water, mud, debris, and stripping water soaked sheetrock and insulation. In addition to the work completed, the DRTs distributed 35 cases of water to those in need.
For Sheep Dogs, assisting people and communities in such tangible...