Fight Oar Die
Gardberg and Kemmerly is proud to sponsor and support the Fight Oar Die team as they take on the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge, which is a rowing race that extends from the Canary Islands to Antigua. The Fight Oar Die team is made up of four Army Combat Veterans: Bryant Knight, Alex Evans, Beau Maier, and Christopher Kuntz. Bryant is a Mobile native and the nephew of our bookkeeper, Ms. Dotty Gilley. These four brave men make up the first ever all American, all Veteran team to take on the challenge.
The team will take off from the Canary Islands on December 22nd for a journey in their 28-foot vessel, Woobie, to Antigua. The trip itself takes around two months to complete and there will be two members continuously rowing in shifts while the other two team members are resting in the cabin of their vessel. The team will travel 3,000 miles in 50 days, all while never leaving Woobie. Everything on the vessel is self-contained from solar panels to power lights, to sleeping quarters, food, and a bathroom.
The purpose of Fight Oar Die is to raise money and awareness for PTSD and suicide prevention for Veterans. Veteran suicide has become an epidemic in the United States as approximately 20 Veterans commit suicide each day according to Military Times. The mission of Fight Oar Die is to inspire Veterans and help them to understand different ways that they can battle PTSD and get the help they need before resorting to taking their own lives.
If you would like to donate or just keep up with the team and their journey visit usvetrow.org for more information and links to the team’s social media accounts.