Fundraiser exceeds monetary goals

Cady Davis, News-Topic, Lenoir, N.C.
·2 min read

May 5—LENOIR — Anytime Fitness Games' fourth annual fundraising event this past weekend was a roaring success. The fundraiser raised a total of $22,000, far exceeding their initial goal of $12,000. Proceeds will be used to purchase service animals for six applicants who are either active military, veterans, or first responders.

Last Saturday, April 30, Anytime Fitness Games hosted the "Shepherds for Sheepdogs" fundraising event at the Patterson School Foundation in Happy Valley, which included an obstacle course race, a cornhole tournament, a Jeep Show, and a variety of delicious food.

A combination of efforts from sponsors, volunteers, donors, and participants helped Anytime Fitness Games raise a total of $22,000. This amount was enough to buy six professionally-trained service dogs, rather than the original goal of five, and to send all six recipients to Tennessee for a three-day full training session to work directly with the handler.

"It is important to note that the Anytime Fitness Games is not an official Anytime Fitness branded event, it is the culminated efforts of Lenoir's Anytime Fitness and other local businesses," said Nicole Tammelin, manager of Anytime Fitness Games. "Caldwell did this, not a corporation."

Everyone who participated in, volunteered for, or donated to this event has significantly changed the lives of six men who served our country.

"The interviews with each applicant really makes you step back and think," said Tammelin. "They have been shot at, had to shoot others, regardless of age, to keep their troops safe from those approaching with suicide vests and other weapons. They've been near explosions and in explosions. They've suffered injuries and lost friends. They lived and fought among the most evil and vile of men ... They did all of this to protect our way of life."

Approximately 22 veterans commit suicide every day, as reported by The Washington Post. Because this year is 2022, Tammelin said she wanted to do something special to honor military and first responders.

Visit anytimefitnessgames.com for more information.