Concert benefits wounded warriors
Published 10:30 pm Friday, March 28, 2014
A concert at a Smithfield eatery on April 5 will raise money for an area nonprofit that helps wounded warriors connect with the great outdoors.
Kip West started Keeping Warriors Outdoors — or KWO — after he and the town of Wakefield faced a tremendous loss when Marine Sgt. Jayton Daniel Peterson was killed by an improvised explosive device in Iraq, according to the organization’s website.
The tragedy occurred Jan. 15, 2005, and West formed KWO, “an organization dedicated to introducing severely wounded men and women to the outdoors,” after a visits to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
KWO provides bows and other gear, as well as formal instruction on archery, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities, and it gets wounded warriors closer to Mother Nature.
The April 5 benefit will be held at Smithfield’s Jalapeno’s Restaurant, 13432 Benns Church Blvd., from 4 to 10 p.m.
Nashville singer-songwriter and Chuckatuck native Tim Buppert will provide the entertainment, as well as — among others — Island Boy, David and Hannah Stoup, Andy Harrell and Jim Masters.
Entry will cost a $10 donation, and food and beverage specials will be available.
“I met Kip a couple of years ago at another event he did locally,” said Amy Stoup, David and Hannah Stoup’s wife and mother, respectively. Stoup is also the owner of Coastal RV, presenting sponsor for the event, which is also being supported by Saunders Supply Co. and Farmers Bank.
“Once I talked to him, and met a lot of the warriors and their families, I heard how much his organization made a difference in their lives. I decided it would be a great group to sponsor.”
Also, she said, the premise of West’s group was a good fit with Coastal RV, in terms of connecting people to the outdoors.
With a winning entertainment lineup and a good cause, Stoup said, she expects the benefit concert to prove successful and become an annual event.
“It’s some way for the community to give back to these folks,” she said.
The concert will also include a raffle and silent action, and T-shirts will be available for purchase.
For more information on the benefit, call 897-7416. To learn more about KWO, visit www.helpkwo.org.