W.L. Gore & Associates, a leading manufacturer of advanced technology products including the GORE-TEX brand for comfort and protection, announced that Charles Ek of Milton, New Hampshire and Ron Warren of Montgomery, Alabama are the winners of the company’s “Hunt with Heroes” contest.
The contest is part of Gore’s initiatives to support United States military personnel who are dedicated hunters.
Contest winners were selected from a pool of entries in the nationwide contest, which was a joint effort between Gore and Freedom Hunters, a program of the non-profit American Military Family, Inc. that takes active duty and wounded combat veterans on hunting excursions to relax and recuperate. Gore began providing financial support and gifts in kind to the Freedom Hunters program in 2010.
Military winner, Army Warrant Officer Ron Warren, has served one tour in Iraq and three tours in Afghanistan, where he was an explosives dog handler for the Special Operations community. He recommended for the Bronze Star w/Valor during a fire fight in Southern Afghanistan. Ron Warren currently is stationed at Fort Rucker in Alabama, where he is enrolled in Army flight school.
Civilian winner Charles “Charlie” Ek is an experienced whitetail, turkey and grouse hunter from New Hampshire. An avid outdoorsman, Mr. Ek spent years running environmental education programs for children and adults.
From October 22 – 30, 2011, the two contest winners will enjoy an all-expense paid elk hunt in the backcountry of Colorado, hosted by Capitol Peak Outfitters (www.capitolpeak.com). Gore will supply both with a full kit of Sitka gear featuring GORE OPTIFADE Concealment, the first-ever visual concealment pattern based on animal vision as well as hunting footwear with durably waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX product technology. Contest sponsor Cabela’s will contribute a $500 gift certificate to each winner to help him prepare for the hunt. Charlie and Ron will be joined by pro guides from Capitol Peak as well as hunter, photographer and outdoor blogger, Alex Tenenbaum, who will chronicle their trip on sitkainsight.com
