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(Photo courtesy Operationsas.org)

A nonprofit organization working to help wounded soldiers is looking for help in advance of a January event.

Operation S.A.S (Sports, Afield, and Stream) is the name of the 5 day excursion for soldiers afflicted with both physical and mental wounds. It starts at Big Sky on January 7th. The trip will allow the soldiers to participate in "winter adventures, sportsman's workshops, snow sports, leisure time," and introduce them to "new mentors," reads the event's website. It is all offered for free to the veterans.

But as of now there is far more interest in Operation S.A.S then resources to support it. The founder and president of the nonprofit organization Operation Never Forgotten, which is putting on the event, said they have received interest from 75 wounded warriors from across the country.

"Right now we only have sponsors for about 30 of them," continued Linda Kelly. "Which one do we say no to? 85 percent of them are purple heart recipients."

She said the biggest expense for each soldier is airfare to get to Bozeman.

The 5-day event kicks off with a banquet beginning at the evening of January 7th. Those attending for the evening will hear from a number of keynote speakers. U.S. Paralympic Cycling Team member Sam Kavanagh lost part of his leg in a 2005 avalanche. He said he looks forward to his keynote address, hoping to inspire the visiting soldiers, to re-introduce them to the world of ability.

"The disability may be a physical characteristic that someone may use to describe you, but it doesn't describe what's in your heart and what's in your mind," Kavanagh said.

Check out the attached video to hear more from Kavanagh.

Country Music star Lee Greenwood will be the Master of Ceremonies for the banquet. KBZK spoke with Greenwood on the phone Thursday. Check back for more with him next week.

Related Links:

Operation SAS website

Operation Never Forgotten website