Fundraiser held for wounded warriors
Deerfield hosts event for those wounded in battle
DEERFIELD, Wis. — Thousands of U.S. soldiers are deployed each year, and many are critically injured while serving overseas.
Those wounded warriors often have difficulty assimilating back into everyday life once their deployment ends.
What happens when these soldiers need help back home?
Several came out to raise money over the weekend to help their heroic brothers and sisters.
Saturday soldiers and civilians alike picked up their arms and opened fire for those injured during war, as the Explosive Ordnance Disposal group raised money for their EOD Wounded Warrior Foundation.
The money raised at Deerfield’s Rod and Gun Club will go right into the hands of injured soldiers and the families of fallen ones.
15633736Air Force Staff Sergeant Brad Little recognizes that his career isn’t for everybody.
“Some jobs, you know, have a higher risk than others,” said Little.
When on duty, Little isn’t usually the man on the front lines of battle.
“Right now I work in supply,” said Little. “So, I take care of getting all the guys in uniform.”
But Saturday at the Deerfield Rod and Gun Club, Little was shooting for guys he can’t take care of.
“A lot of these guys are going off to combat and they’re coming back without arms, legs, and whatever,” said Little. “They’re most likely going to get out and be that way for the rest of their lives.”
On Saturday, those participating didn’t necessarily care if their shots were right on target. That’s because for every shot fired, money was to be donated to help fund prosthetic legs, diagnose brain injuries, or send families of fallen soldiers to memorial sites.
In Afghanistan, Staff Sergeant Timothy Donnan was helping an army unit hit by an explosive when his unit was hit.
“They diagnosed me with TBI, that’s Traumatic Brain Injury,” said Donnan. “To me, that’s a little larger than a concussion. I have short term memory loss. And then, I landed on my back and have some lower back pains.”
Donnan says he’s among the lucky ones, however.
“I have multiple friends who are missing limbs or who have been injured,” said Donnan.
For the soldiers who aren’t able to, Donnan, Little, and others, hope that shooting for the cause helps to ease their colleagues’ pain.
The Midwest EOD group’s goal was to raise $8,000 for the EOD Wounded Warrior Foundation.
Officials said that they raised more than $12,000, far eclipsing their fundraising goals.
