Third annual Brewathlon brings money to Honor Flight

RIO RANCHO — The annual Brewathlon fundraising event Saturday at Brew Lab 101 raised money for the no-profit Honor Flight of Northern New Mexico.

“It feels absolutely wonderful to see all these people here,” Honor Flight of Northern New Mexico Vice President Shirley Johnson said.

The event is in its third year and was organized by the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“This is our third annual ‘Brewathlon.’ It is a fundraiser by one of my six groups at the Chamber Visionaries. We are raising money for Honor Flight of Northern New Mexico, which they raise money to send veterans to Washington, D.C., on a three-day trip to look at their respective memorials,” Jamie Gallardo, the chamber’s director of membership, said.

Teams of two registered for $50 and got a shot at the Brewathlon trophy, which was modeled after a red Solo cup.

The event ran from 3-6 p.m. with 32 teams participating in the cornhole and pong tournament.

“This event has just grown so much. We maxed out at 32 teams this year, and it’s awesome to see the support,” Gallardo said.

“I come to Brew Lab quite a bit, I live right down the road, and after I saw the sign, I grabbed my friend here who has been my friend since grade school,” said participant Casey McCray, who was on a team with Urick Johnson.

“We’ve been best friends for over 25 years. We played a lot of competitions like this together, and we’re reunited together,” Urick said.

Brew Lab 101 donated 10% of all proceeds to Honor Flight, and a raffle only furthered the donated proceeds. Honor Flight representatives were also very active throughout the day. Some were selling raffle tickets while others collected letters for veterans.

“I’m providing some team members to be scorekeepers and judges. We are also selling stuff, getting cards and letters. I’m doing whatever needs to be done,” Johnson said.

On June 13, Honor Flight of Northern New Mexico will be at the Albuquerque Sunport to give returning veterans the “return they never got.” The public is invited to participate in the welcome.

Honor Flight of Northern New Mexico will also have a charity golf tournament on Sept. 12 at Isleta Golf Club. To register, visit honorflightnorthernnm.org.