This Saturday, June 1st, NFL Players are challenging the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team (WWAST) to a celebrity softball game at Bowie Baysox Stadium. Approximately fifteen NFL players are stepping up to the plate to raise $50,000 for several Wounded Warrior Amputee Charities.
The players who will headline the event are: Torrey Smith of the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens and Desean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles. In addition to several Washington Redskins’ – Joshua Morgan, Darrel Young, Fred Davis, EJ Biggers and a bunch of others are coming together to form the NFL Players Team.
“On Saturday we’re going to be raising money for three charities,” said Torrey Pocock who is an organizer of the event and CEO/President of Torrey Charles and Willner Marketing. “The Wounded Warriors Project, Yellow Ribbon Fund and the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball team. All of which help promote amputee awareness through our sponsor Medical Center Orthotics and Prosthetics.”
Medical Center Orthotics and Prosthetics is the exclusive provider of lower limb prosthetics at Walter Reed Medical Center to wounded soldiers coming back from Afghanistan and the Middle East. Known for the fit and function they provide to their patients – they make it possible for athletes like those on the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team to compete.
“What we find is that these soldiers not only sacrifice their time, many of them sacrifice their lives, but in these particular circumstances they are sacrificing their limbs,” Pocock told Pro Player Insiders. “Many of them losing their limbs to roadside bombs and IED’s, they are very, very dramatic injuries. Any injury is bad, but when you get back and actually start the recovery process, it takes a lot of effort.”
This event not only brings awareness to the community, but even more so to amputees and those who have suffered limb loss. “What we find is that it’s really important to make sure the amputees and those who have suffered limb loss know they can find the right leg – they can get a good fit – they can be comfortable,” said Pocock. “Because if they can’t have a good fit, they can’t have good function. What we want to do with this event is show people how much technology has advanced by looking at this amputee softball team.”
Every single player on the amputee softball team is a Wounded Warrior and works without one or two limbs. They’ve all been fitted with great prosthetics. But don’t be fooled, the team will be extremely competitive. In fact, Torrey Pocock says the Wounded Warriors will probably beat the NFL team. “These guys are really, really good at playing softball,” he said. “You’ll actually forget that they’re playing without an arm or a leg. That’s how good they are and that’s how good their quality of life is. They enjoy playing softball. It’s something that’s very fulfilling to them.”
By coming out and watching these Wounded Warriors play against the celebrity football players, you will see these guys can have a quality life after losing a limb(s) serving the country. “We want to support them, because there’s still a lot of mental things they have to go through,” Pocock said. “We want to support these men and women going through limb loss injuries and help them move forward. That’s why these NFL Players have come together to help raise money for these charities.”
Expect a fun filled, competitive game. “We’re normal guys – we have fun – but we also play the sport well,” a player from the Wounded Warrior Team said during a powerful documentary on USA Today. “None of us want anyone to feel sorry for us,” the player said. “We want people to bring their ‘A’ game, because we’re going to bring ours every time we get out there. We just want to be viewed as ball players.”
“Yes it’s a charity match, we all understand that,” Pocock said. “But the thing is, the wounded warriors — this is what they do. They’re playing softball every other weekend promoting amputee awareness all over the country. And the NFL Players — they’re professional athletes. There’s probably $200 million worth of athletes on that side. The way that they operate is, they don’t want to lose. It’s going to be a really, really good game. It will be extremely competitive. But most people I talk to think that Amputee team is the one that will edge them out.”
“This event wouldn’t be possible without Medical Center Orthotics and Prosthetics,” said Torrey Pocock. “They’re the ones who made it possible to have the event and put us in position to take all the ticket sales and donate them to the three charities we’re working with.”
Tickets for the event in Bowie, Maryland start at $15 for Veterans and active Military and go up to $55 for meet and greet seats with NFL and WWAST Players. $20 General Admission. You can purchase tickets here: https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/BuyClear.asp?EventID=96997&continue=buynew.asp#.UadQ-0Cl0kq
Gates open at 6:00 p.m. We hope to see you there!
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This event was an absolute blast. The NFL players really came through and seemed to enjoy themselves. The fans showed so much love and appreciation to all the service members, veterans, and families on military members. I hope they carry on this event in the years to come. As a veteran, I took my family and it was incredible.