SMS’ 2022 Fitness Challenge for Charity

Our 2022 SMS Fitness Challenge  wrapped up and it was our most highly participated challenge yet! One hundred fifty-seven employees stepped up to the annual SMS Fitness Challenge, totaling more than 322,000 combined minutes of activity – that’s more than seven straight months of exercise! More than 16 teams rose to the challenge to exercise with the goal of helping others through a sponsored charity.

Our top three teams for the 2022 Fitness Challenge were:

First Place – Positive Impact – CSS2 Team, McConnell AFB, Wichita, Kansas
Team Members: Christopher Walk (Captain), Antonius Jones, Shannon Dos, Matt Hartschen, Garrison Thomas, Steven Ayotte, Floyd Hopson, Ryan Rathbun, Hunter Brooks, Demetrius Jones, Celestine Lucero, Mike Taggart, Jeremy Evans, Walter Wheeler, TJ Lucero, Chi Chinaka, Kennish Grady, Jacob Wofford and Angel.

SMS made a $1,500 donation on behalf of Team Positive Impact for placing first in this year’s challenge! The Positive Impact team picked St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as their charity of choice.  St. Jude works towards advance cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.  They are also well known for their treatment of all children regardless of their ability to pay for treatment.

Second Place – Skinny Jalapenos – AFINC Team,  Gunter AFB, Montgomery, AL
Team Members:  Aaron Graffius (Captain), Gretchen Graffius, Brenna McGee, Erin Cauthen, Maggie Davenport and Robert Nicholson

SMS made a $1,500 donation to in recognition of Team Skinny Jalapenos’ second place finish! The Skinny Jalapenos team chose the Montgomery Area Food Bank as their charity. The Montgomery Area Food Bank does helps combat hunger and food insecurity in 30 of Alabama’s 67 counties, by connecting people, food and resources to satisfy hunger needs.

Third Place – RoadRunners – AETC Team, Randolph AFB,  Universal City, TX
Team Members: Tye Tillmon (Captain), Emily Maloney, Marshall Day, Jeremiah Gutierrez, Linda Hoover, Reginald Mayberry, Angel Martinez-Gurrola, Amanda Day and Bill Hoover

SMS made a $1,500 donation as the third placed team! Team RoadRunners chose the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX as their charity.  The MD Anderson Cancer center is the largest cancer center in the U.S. and one of the original three comprehensive cancer centers in the country.

Congratulations to our top three teams and to all members of the 16 teams who participated in the challenge!

Area Food Bank CEO Richard Deem (far left) accepting the check from SMS’ Team Skinny Jalapenos  teammates Robert Nicholson, Aaron Graffius, Gretchen Graffius, Erin Cauthen and Maggie Davenport in front of the Montgomery Alabama Area Food Bank’s main distribution center.

Tye Tillmon and his wife from SMS’ Team RoadRunners providing the donation to the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Letter of appreciation from MD Anderson Cancer Center to SMS’ Team RoadRunners for providing the generous donation.