Raising Money for Wounded Warriors and Their Families
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Riding for a cause. Hundreds get together to show their support for wounded warriors and their family’s. WJBF News
Channel 6’s Barclay Bishop has more.
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By Barclay Bishop
WJBF News Channel 6 reporter
Published: November 1, 2008
Fort Gordon-
For 3 years, American Legion Post 178 Riders and their supporters have been helping to raise money for Fort
Gordon’s Fisher House. They have all served or know someone who has served in the military, they say Saturday
was a chance to give back.
Paul Roberts, Post 178 American Legion Riders: “Today means the final chapter of what we’ve been working hard all
year.”
Saturday, more than 300 riders gathered for roaring thunder 2008 at Fort Gordon.
Roberts: “We’re not really here for us to feel good, we’re here for them to feel good. Because all of us at one time
have served in one position or another.”
Fort Gordon’s Fisher House keeps families for free, while their military loved ones recover from a sickness or injury at
Eisenhower Medical Center or the VA.
Paula, parent staying at Fisher House: “The Fisher House has been a blessing. We’ve been here since august 26th
and I would be sleeping in my car if it wasn’t for the fisher house.”
Private Omari Polite, wounded warrior: “It really did help me. It helped my family. My family is living here in this house
with a lot of food.”
Corporal Ruben Pedro is another wounded warrior. Shot in Iraq back in may, now recovering with his family.
CPL. Ruben Pedro, wounded warrior: “It’s been a big part of my healing. I was pretty stressed out at the time and
once I was there, within I would say, about 2 days I had them here and it’s just been fantastic.”
Fundraisers like roaring thunder, give moms like Patty Keith, the chance to help her son during his year long road of
recovery. Relieving her of many financial worries.
Patty Kith, parent staying at Fisher House: “There’s been a time or two that we’ve not been able to get the fisher
house during the week. And just depending on where you stay it was like 500 dollars in hotel bills.”
With the holidays around the corner, Patty’s son, PFC Casey Nelms, says he’s thankful to have his mom’s support
and even more for roaring thunder and their cause.
PFC Casey Nelms, wounded warrior: “I am very excited about it ma’am. Because if it wasn’t for the fisher house
there would be a lot of hardships on everybody to have family here.“
The Fisher House at Fort Gordon has 7 bedrooms. Next year, a Fisher House with 21 bedrooms will be breaking
ground at Augusta’s Uptown VA Hospital.