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HGA and AMB to Host Mountain Ninja Warriors Fundraising Competition Aug. 20

At High Gravity Adventures, fundraising doesn’t mean car washes and bake sales – it means a fierce competition of climbing, balancing and swinging through the air in a challenging ropes course race!

On Saturday, August 20, eight local nonprofit organizations will team up with High Country businesses to compete in High Gravity Adventures’ and Appalachian Mountain Brewery’s first ever Mountain Ninja Warrior competition. Inspired by the popular “American Ninja Warrior” television series, the Mountain Ninja Warrior competition will put athletes through a challenging race against the clock, where they will take on High Gravity Adventures’ ground and aerial obstacles in a race to the top of the course. A nonprofit and business will form a team in a quest to raise money for the nonprofit, selecting one male and one female athlete to conquer the course.

In addition to the fun of watching the competition unfold in the evening, adventure-seekers can experience the excitement of the course during the day of the event. High Gravity Adventures will open the competition course for an amateur competition,allowing guests to test their physical and mental abilities to see if they have what it takes to be a Mountain Ninja Warrior.

Fundraising efforts have officially begun, and the amount raised by each team will determine the amount of time savings they are rewarded during the race. All nonprofit teams will take home what was fundraised for them in the time leading up to the event, and the nonprofit that has the largest amount raised at the start of the event will receive the grand prize. As part of High Gravity Adventures’ partnership with Appalachian Mountain Brewery, the winning nonprofit and their accompanying sponsor will work with the brewery to create a collaboration beer, proceeds from which will be donated back to the nonprofit.

The main event of the Mountain Ninja Warrior competition will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 20, and spectator admission will be $5. The event will feature live music and will also offer food and beer from AMB for purchase. The course will be open during the day of the event from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with timed trials for amateurs beginning at noon.  Course tickets for the amateur competition will be $25.

Team fundraising pages can be found athttps://www.crowdrise.com/MountainNinjaWarrior.

ASU Athletics Staff to Participate

Appalachian State University Athletics staff members Karl Anderson and Yolanda Berryhill will take part in the first annual Mountain Warrior Ninja Challenge taking place on Aug. 20 at High Gravity Adventures.

Anderson, who is the department’s academic advisor for football, and Berryhill, who is the head Olympic strength and conditioning coach that oversees volleyball, women’s basketball, softball and the throwers for track and field, will team up against seven other teams in the competition.

In addition, the eight squads that are participating will choose a local non-profit organization to partner with for the competition. Leading up to the event, each team will work together to raise money towards their charity.

On behalf of head women’s basketball coach Angel Elderkin, the department has chosen the Kay Yow Fund as its charity. Founded in 2007, the Kay Yow Fund is founded in the vision of former North Carolina State women’s basketball head coach, Kay Yow. The fund is a charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women’s cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause.

Since the Kay Yow Fund was started, approximately 5.28 million dollars has been granted for research scientific research and related programs focused on women’s cancers.

The money raised will work as an advantage for teams the night of the competition. As the goal is to raise money for each teams’ charity, for every $100 raised, one second will be taken off the final time of finish.

Appalachian State IMG Sponsor, Appalachian Mountain Brewery, and High Gravity Adventures are teaming up for an event that is similar to the popular television show, American Ninja Warrior. The timed race will consist of six ground elements and a route navigating the three levels of High Gravity Adventure’s aerial adventure park.

To donate to a great cause, you can go to the event page by clicking HERE!