7th Anniversary Challenge & Fundraiser
Each year we bring in 5-6 ‘celebrity’ athletes/personalities and pair them up with a Veteran from each branch of service to take on a 30 hour ‘Ordeal’ that challenges team work, camaraderie, perseverance, problem solving skills, adaptability… all the things we share in common that make us successful against the struggles of life.
We also bring in over 2 dozen Veteran volunteers to participate, support, and enhance the camaraderie during the event. Truly making it a community experience where we forge connections that last well beyond the weekend. Inevitably, the collective wisdom, work ethic, life lessons, and beauty that is shared during this event becomes a catalyst for growth & happiness for everyone and in ways that cannot be deliberately crafted.
The event also serves as the foundation’s primary fundraiser where we award prizes, and generate the majority of our annual revenue that will support the following year’s Veterans programs and events.
Starting Monday, June 15th we echelon in support, staff, & key volunteers. Thursday afternoon is an all hands brief and the event starts Friday the 19th at 9a, concluding on Saturday the 20st at 3p with a giant bbq and social. Departure starts Sunday late morning running into Monday and Tuesday during cleanup.
Participation / Applications
We’ll begin reaching out to ‘celebrity’ athletes/personalities early 2026 and open up the Veteran participation and volunteer applications in January.
Participants will host Peer-2-Peer fundraising through their professional & social networks to raise awareness and essential funding for the foundation. Donations generated through the competitors via P2P will go towards awarding them points during the competition.
Event Sponsors
Each year Rogue Fitness supports this event with incredible generosity and this year will be no different.
The Purpose BBQ will be cooking for us again in 2026.
Smith & Wesson is coming in new this year to bring back the pistol competition… big things coming!
We’ll be announcing additional partners and sponsors in the coming days.
GiveAways
We’ll update as partnerships and opportunities come in.
Remote Challenges
For the many that won’t be able to participate in person, we will be creating mini remote challenges to add to the points to competitors scores during the event. This is an opportunity to not only support the foundation, but also your favorite athlete, Veteran, or branch of service.
Updates will be posted as available.
Registration not available at this time.
Organized By
Big Fish Foundation
We were founded by Major Brian Chontosh, USMC (ret.). During OIF in 2003, he led the CAAT platoon for 3/5, and his radio call-sign was “Big Fish”.
