Rafting & Racing Inspire Sheep Dogs
They started arriving in North Carolina on Thursday, August 4, and by Friday, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) had 70+ veterans, first responders and supporters gathered to participate in their Western North Carolina Chapter’s Adventure Weekend. This annual adventure culminates in running the Asheville Spartan Super, and for 30 of the participants, the race would be a test of how far they had come since being injured in combat or the line of duty - and a reminder that no matter the obstacle, they can overcome it all with their brothers and sisters by their side. The Sheep Dogs started their weekend with a hearty breakfast at the Dixie Diner in Hendersonville on Friday morning, followed by white water rafting on the Nantahala River.
James Hurn, Deputy Sheriff with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, summed up the experience the best. “I thought it was going to be a typical rafting trip,” he said. “But I quickly learned that when you...
Skydiving Events Renew Spirits of Sponsored Sheep Dogs
Ask someone if they want to skydive, and you are sure to get one of two adamant answers – “YES! Let’s do it!” or “Are you CRAZY?! Why would I jump out of a perfectly good airplane?!” Fortunately for the willing, both the Northwest Arkansas Chapter and Michigan Team of Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) recently held skydiving events – with the others enjoying the excitement and camaraderie with their feet firmly on the ground. While some members of SDIA have jumped as part of their military training, not all did. For those who stayed on the ground or in the plane, skydiving may provide the rush of combat or other intensive training in a very new way. This was the case for sponsored first-time skydiver USMC Cpl Justin Denslow at the Michigan Team’s July 3 event held at Skydive Tecumseh. After being diagnosed with PTSD upon his return from Afghanistan, Cpl Denslow tried various treatments/training to manage his symptoms...
SDIA’s Unforgettable Adventure at Yosemite National Park
After 5 days of camping in and exploring the vast and magnificent Yosemite National Park, the Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) group was tired, but refreshed and invigorated by their experiences. As special guests of the National Park Service as they celebrate their 100th anniversary, the 60+ Sheep Dogs and family members who participated in this Outdoor Adventure were treated to upgraded camp sites, a special tour, and the opportunity to discover all this incredible park has to offer. From May 29 through June 2, SDIA guests visited Tuolumne Meadows, swam at snow melt Tenaya Lake, summited waterfall peaks, and hiked and explored the meadows, ponds, rivers and mountains surrounding them. A highlight for many was the private guided tram-ride tour of Yosemite Valley by the Park Rangers; during the tour, Rangers thanked our sponsored Sheep Dogs for their service and for honoring the Park by spending Memorial Day week in Yosemite.
For all who were there, being unplugged from technology,...
SDIA’s Arkansas Chapters Team Up for Major Patriot Day Event at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is excited to announce a joint venture between their Northwest Arkansas and Central Arkansas chapters, and the Arkansas River Valley Team, to host their largest Patriot Day event to date. The 6th Annual Patriot Day festival will be held on Sat., Sept. 10, 2016, in a new, larger location – War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. In the stadium, teams from all over the region will compete in the first Patriot Bowl 8-on-8 Flag Football Tournament. The tournament will be going at the same time as our Patriot Day Festival in the parking lot.
This event is the perfect opportunity for children and adults to get to know their local Sheep Dogs – the men and women who make up our military and first responder professions. Attendees can meet them, learn about what they do, and see and touch vehicles and equipment, watch K9 and rescue demonstrations, visit interactive displays, children’s activities, vendor booths, and more activities throughout...
4th Annual Charity Ball Funds 35 Sheep Dogs for Yosemite Adventure
Last Friday, April 22, we held our 4th Annual Charity Ball at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in Rogers. With over 350 people in attendance, and special musical guests Backroad Anthem, we were blown away by the generosity shown by everyone. Our goal for the evening was to recognize the best of our nation’s Military & First Responders, and our supporters, as well as to raise money to sponsor a few of the 35 combat wounded veterans and first responders injured in the line of duty for our Outdoor Adventure to Yosemite National Park next month. We are astonished and proud to share that net proceeds of over $25,000 will help sponsor ALL 35 of these men and women for this once-in-a-lifetime trip. While this trip will be fun and exciting, participating in outdoor adventures is vital to the healing of our sponsored individuals; these adventures present them with new challenges to test their rehabilitation skills, restore independence and...
SDIA Combat Wounded Member’s Social Media Videos Getting Attention
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is excited to share that one of our Combat Wounded Veteran Members, Jose Luis Sanchez, was featured on CrossFit HQ’s Facebook* and Instagram* page on Wednesday! Sanchez's Facebook and Instagram posts showing his training, perseverance and hard core resolve at Warrior Fitness Center caught their attention. In October 2011, SSgt Jose Luis Sanchez had no idea how drastically his life was about to change. While conducting a foot patrol in Afghanistan, Sanchez stepped on an IED, resulting in the amputation of his left leg below the knee, and an extremely damaged, but salvageable, right leg. For the next four years, Sanchez would struggle daily to accept the man he had become. He hid from the world – physically and emotionally – because he feared how others would see him…his injuries. Yet he vigorously pushed himself in physical therapy so he would walk again. Then he began CrossFit, and physically pushed himself further than he...
SDIA Winner of GovX Mission Giveback Donation
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is excited to announce that they have been chosen as the February recipient of GovX.com’s Mission Giveback program. GovX.com (GovX), the online shopping site exclusively for current and former military and first responders – our nation’s “Sheep Dogs” – hosts this monthly contest allowing GovX members to cast a vote for their favorite service-related organization which performs work or support among Sheep Dog communities. Whichever organization tallies the most votes receives a portion of GovX proceeds from all orders placed in the following month. During the January voting period, SDIA received the most votes from GovX members. “We are very grateful to GovX and their members for choosing SDIA as the February Mission Giveback winner,” exclaimed SDIA’s founder and president, SgtMaj Lance Nutt. “Every year we strive to give and do more for our nation’s veterans, first responders and communities. This donation holds tremendous power and will directly affect the lives of our neighbors...
SDIA Assists Communities in Texas and NW Arkansas
During the week of December 28, 2015, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) deployed four Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) to the Rowlett, Texas, area to assist with recovery efforts for those affected by tornadoes that struck the region two days prior. Thanks to the support of our generous donors and sponsors, SDIA deployed disaster response teams to north Texas, as well as flood relief teams to NW Arkansas and SW Missouri communities. Fourteen SDIA members and volunteers from Arkansas, Kansas, Tennessee and Texas converged on the north Texas town of Rowlett, and provided chainsaw operations, debris removal and covered leaky roofs and windows on 34 homes. To see more pictures of the Rowlett DRM, visit our Facebook Album. We owe a special thank you to Larry "LG" Norrell and the crew of Bethel Ranch for allowing our teams to stay at Bethel Ranch. We could not have eaten or slept better if we had been in our own homes.
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...