“Heroes Crusade” seeking athlete participants for rugby tournament, golf tournament, and run/walk/bike
“Heroes Crusade” seeking athlete participants for golf tournament, rugby tournament, and run/walk/bike
FAYETTEVILLE, NC – Calling all athletes: Fayetteville/Cumberland County will host the first ever “Heroes Crusade: An Athlete’s Campaign” from November 4-6, 2011. It will feature three days of events that appeal to a variety of athletes including cyclists, runners, golfers and ruggers. The goal of Heroes Crusade, which is being held in partnership with the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (FACVB), is to raise awareness and funds for wounded warriors.
“Heroes Crusade is unlike any other sporting event out there in that elite athletes and wounded warriors will compete side-by-side and come together to honor other wounded warriors,” said Heroes Crusade founder John Tinsley. “And there’s no more appropriate place to host this event than Fayetteville, America’s First Military Sanctuary Community, which is home to one of the largest military installations in the country.”
Heroes Crusade will include a golf tournament, rugby tournament and run/walk/bike. Proceeds will benefit three military charities: Wounded Warrior Project, Green Beret Foundation and RDU AMBUCS. Heroes Crusade is being held in conjunction with Heroes Homecoming, a 10-day celebration for Vietnam veterans leading up to Veterans Day 2011.
To register to participate in Heroes Crusade as an athlete, sponsor or donor, visit www.HeroesCrusade.com.
The Heroes Crusade golf tournament will take place on Friday, November 4 at Cypress Lakes Golf Course (2126 Cypress Lakes Road, Hope Mills). Cypress Lakes offers fast, championship-style greens with holes that are tough enough for advanced players but fairly designed for players of any ability level. Wounded warriors are encouraged to participate in the tournament, which is scheduled for a 9:30 a.m. “shotgun” start and will follow a Captain’s Choice format, with each team selecting its own teammates. There will be raffles and various prizes, including a $2,500 putting contest and two hole-in-one contests: one for a chance to win $1 million and one sponsored by Volvo for a chance to win a new car.
The Fallen Warrior Rugby Tournament will take place on Saturday, November 5 at 9:00 a.m. at Jordan Soccer Complex (445 Treetop Drive, Fayetteville). The tournament will consist of men’s and women’s teams that will take the pitch and play in honor of more than 100 fallen ruggers. Both teams will wear jerseys crafted in memory of these fallen heroes, with each player proudly wearing a fallen comrade’s former rugby number.
The 5k run/walk and 18/36/62 mile bike ride will take place on Sunday, November 6. The events will start and finish at the Medical Arts Center (101 Robeson Street, Fayetteville). The 5k will start at 10:00 a.m. and will make its way through downtown Fayetteville, past some of the city’s most historic landmarks. Runners will enjoy a fairly flat course, with the only challenging hill located at the start/finish line. The race will be timed using the ChampionChip Timing System. Awards will be given to the top three racers in 12 different age categories.
The bike ride will start at 9:00 a.m. Wounded warriors are urged to participate in this non-competitive event alongside other athletes. The course for this ride will extend across Cumberland County. It will be timed using the ChampionChip Timing System. Proceeds will also benefit Ride 2 Recovery, an event that assists mental and physical rehabilitation programs for our country’s wounded veterans who consider cycling as a core activity.
“Heroes Crusade is a combination of several passions of mine, as I have been involved with a fallen warriors rugby tournament and several golf tournaments in the past. I hope that adding a run/walk/bike to the event line-up will open it up to a whole new group of participants that all want to come together to pay tribute to wounded warriors.”
Heroes Crusade is being held in conjunction with Heroes Homecoming, which will take place November 4-13. The 50+ event series will feature celebrations, discussions, fellowship and memories for all those who attend. Heroes Homecoming is the community’s way of showing all Vietnam veterans that we remember and appreciate their courage, their sacrifice and everything they’ve done to defend our freedom. To learn more about Heroes Homecoming and to view a full list of events, visit www.HeroesHomecoming.com.
About the FACVB
The Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, not-for-profit organization responsible for positioning Fayetteville/Cumberland County as a destination for conventions, sporting events and individual travel. For additional information, visit www.visitfayettevillenc.com or call 1-800-255-8217. Fayetteville/Cumberland County is America’s first military sanctuary. Through the Army’s Army and other volunteer groups, our citizens and businesses are dedicated to “watching over those who watch over us ©.”
Contact:
Leah Knepper
919.397.5355
lknepper@rubberneckmedia.com
Martin Armes
919.608.7260
martinarmes@nc.rr.com
