Wreaths Across America/MinotWreaths.org and the Civil Air Patrol Magic City Composite Squadron have announced their new youth initiative, The Cadet Challenge. The challenge is a fitness-based fundraising event that honors veterans while teaching cadets leadership, responsibility and the value of working for the resources that sustain their squadron activities.

The two nonprofit organizations are seeking business and individual sponsors ahead of the event on Sept. 13 at 3 p.m. at Sentinel Field, Minot North High School.

Sponsors pledge wreaths for veterans for every mile the squadron completes during the 90‒minute challenge. Individuals and families may sponsor a specific cadet by pledging a set number of wreaths per mile their cadet runs. All wreaths will be placed at Rosehill Memorial Park cemetery during Wreaths Across America Day in December. Twenty-nine percent of sponsorship funds will return to the Minot community to support cadet ground training, leadership activities and year‒round service opportunities.

“Some of our squadron cadets are natural outreach and fundraising wizards. Most thrive in other ways, but all are eager to honor America’s veterans through service,” said Civil Air Patrol Senior and MinotWreaths.org Coordinator Robyn Stoner. “The Cadet Challenge gives every cadet a meaningful avenue in which to contribute to honoring our veterans in a way they can see and feel. And please, come out to hoot and holler our squadron across the finish line in September. Cadets convert noise into speed.”

Sponsors can sign up online. For more information or to volunteer at the Cadet Challenge, contact MinotWreaths@gmail.com.