Wake For Warriors fundraiser brings in over $10,000

CRESCENT BAR — The Wake For Warriors fundraiser held at Crescent Bar on Saturday was a big success bringing in over $10,000.

The “Wake for Warriors Silent Auction and Dinner” was held at Sunfire Grill and also featured a raffle.

Terry Knight, coordinator for the WFW Pacific Northwest chapter, spoke to attendees about how much the organization meant to him and those participating in the nonprofit.

Knight said Wake For Warriors is about bringing veterans and their families together and creating a community. He noted that many of the veterans have some form of disability related to their service and that WFW is a way for them to have a support network of others going through the same struggles.

“I’ve heard so many stories about how much even one of our weekends has affected them and brought them back. I can tell you, I’ve experienced it firsthand for myself,” said Knight.

Knight got a little emotional as he went on to explain that it was shortly after his diagnosis of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, that he found Wake For Warriors.

Many of those in the audience were moved to tears as they listened to Knight, who said he had always wanted to learn how to surf.

“But it was that weekend that I felt whole again,” said Knight. “Where I was able to get up on that surfboard and learn something that I felt proud of and it was a challenge and it made me just forget. And I had the best weekend.”

He said that his participation in Wake For Warriors that weekend, in Austin, Texas, is where he was able to meet David Deep, the founder of Wake For Warriors, and knew that he wanted to find a program like that in the Pacific Northwest. When he couldn’t find one, Knight headed up bringing Wake For Warriors to Washington.

Wake For Warriors participants, as well as members of the community, attended the fundraiser and got to see and hear from those the funds directly affected.

“I just want to share with you that what you’re doing tonight is the most important thing you could ever do to help one of our disabled athletes get out here on the water and become part of the community again,” said Knight.

Wake For Warriors volunteer Gerry Fierling has been a part of the Crescent Bar event every year since it started four years ago. He also spoke, reminiscing on the event’s first year at Crescent Bar, where it only attracted three boats and nine participants. Last year, Fierling said, they had 16 boats, two pontoon boats, four jet skis and over 100 participants.

Organizer of the fundraiser Christie Gilbert estimated that they raised $10,000-$11,000 that night. All the money goes directly to the Crescent Bar Wake For Warriors wakeboarding event for veterans in early September. Any money left over will be donated to the nonprofit’s national program to be used at other events across the country.

Gilbert noted that the event could not have been a success without the help of Sunserra, Sunfire Grille & Lounge and Machinery Installation & Maintenance, Inc. She also wanted to mention that Me2You Catering donated its services to the event after finding out what the event was for.

“I think everything went really well,” said Gilbert. “It was a perfect night for a perfect organization.”

Rebecca Pettingill can be reached via email at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.