American Ninja Warrior is a fast-paced, adrenaline-filled obstacle course that requires skill and strength.
For anyone who has ever thought they could beat the course and come out unscathed on the other side, RHFNow invites you to come out and test your skills at the annual Ninja Warrior Course at Ricks Place located at 5572 Shenandoah Drive, right off of Raeford Road in Fayetteville. The course will be open two weekends, March 22 and 23 and March 29 and 30, with four time slots daily starting at 9 a.m. except on closing Sunday.
Competitors will have a choice between an Intermediate course (50% success rate) and an Elite course (10% success rate). Both courses have been used in American Ninja Warrior competitions. Competitors can register online at https://rhfnow.org/ninja-warrior/. This event is free for Military with I.D., $60 for civilians, $15 for civilian spectators, and free for military personnel. The event will also have rock climbing walls, food trucks, and new this year, First Aid Certification onsite.
RHFNow Foundation is always looking for volunteers and sponsors for the event. Those interested in donating physical time or monetarily can do so online at https://rhfnow.org/ninja/. During the week, the course will be used by Fort Bragg units for team-building exercises, operational days and a little fun. As a thank you to volunteers, the Monday after closing is just for those who help make the event run as smoothly as possible for the public and create an enjoyable experience for families.
RHFNow is a local nonprofit geared toward providing services and recreational activities for military families in the area at its facility, Rick’s Place. Named after Sgt. 1st Class Richard J. Herrema, who lost his life during Operation Iraqi Freedom, this 50-acre interactive recreation facility is the perfect representation of its namesake’s life philosophy.
The property is located right behind a bustling family neighborhood, and boasts a tree house, barn, pavilion, book exchange sponsored by Cumberland County Library, playground, a pond, and plenty of open space for camp outs.
While facilities like the pavilion, tree house, and playground are open to the public, RHFNow hosts events exclusively for military families, like Messy Monday, an art program sponsored and instructed by KidCreate Studio. Rick’s Place is truly magical and a gem for the entire community.
John Yerby, Deputy Executive Director, noted that several homeschool groups use the pavilion as an outdoor classroom. The tree house is the pillar of the property, wrapping and winding across several trees on the property. The playground is a popular feature that Yerby says they are more than happy to share with the community.
“We don’t mind when the families come down. Matter of fact, we love it. They watch over our property.”
Rick’s Place is a place of community, a place where soldiers and their families can unwind and make memories between deployments.
“The Rick Herrema Foundation is changing the way America cares for their military families,” Yerby said.
Programs include:
• Cooking Matters: bringing cooking classes right into the home
• Bend & Brew: yoga, and coffee to start the day fresh
• Camping @ Rick’s Place: a night of bonding and camping on the yard
For more information on programs and events visit the website at https://rhfnow.org/events/ and https://rhfnow.org/programs/
For information on Camp Rick’s Place, a 2-week camp (3 sessions) visit https://rhfnow.org/camps/.

(Photo: The tree house at Rick's Place is the centerpiece of the property. Photo courtesy of RHFNow Foundation's Facebook Page)