Many of our Veteran Fitness Challenge athletes have been motivated by the VFC to conquer additional challenges in their lives- half marathons, ruck races, sports competitions, or staying consistent on their personal goals to push their limits every day.

One athlete has taken the VFC spirit of ‘challenge’ to incredible distances and international heights since joining the Bridge II Sports Veteran Fitness Challenge from his home in Oklahoma.

George is a medically retired Air Force combat Veteran who served in the Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He always enjoyed competing with Valor Games, so during the pandemic the VFC gave him an outlet to step out of his comfort zone and stay active with fellow veterans.

"If not for Bridge 2 Sports and the Veteran Fitness Challenge, I would have never attempted the 3-month challenge"

Building up confidence through the friendly FitBit challenges with his VFC team (‘Da Team/Delta’), George decided to take on a very special personal journey.  For three-month earlier this year, he participated in the Trail of Tears Chahta Nowvt Aya (Choctaw Journey).

This 620-mile virtual challenge followed one of the routes taken on the Trail of Tears with reflections throughout on ancestors past who had to endure the journey under rigorous conditions.  As a Veteran, George was honored to be placed on team ‘Code Walkers’.
During this time his wife was deployed to ‘Operation Inherent Resolve’ in the Middle East. He credits the journey with giving him a goal in her absence and to stay on a healthy lifestyle path.

Raring for the next big challenge, George’s family crossed a BIG one off their bucket list just this past month. They traveled to PERU and conquered a 5 day/4 night trek up Machu Picchu! George’s wife was even sporting a Bridge II Sports hat when they reached the top at 7,972 feet! We’ve gone international!!

Family of 3 standing in front mountains and Machu Picchu