HOUSTON – A charity flag football game was held between wounded veterans and former NFL and college football players at HISD's Delmar Stadium on Wednesday.
The event has become a tradition and raises funds and awareness for U.S. servicemen and women wounded in the line of duty.
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The Wounded Warriors Amputee Football Team (WWAFT) beat the NFL alumni during Wednesday night's game.
Hundreds of fans came to watch the game, including Simone Biles.
"This is our Super Bowl, this is our NFL moment and it's unbelievable. I can't thank the NFL players enough," said U.S. Marine Corps veteran, B.J. Ganem. "To be out here and be able to share the field with a lot of these guys who we grew up watching, and emulate when we were just playing sandlot football, it's amazing."
To Ganem, who lost his left leg below the knee to an IED in Iraq, the flag football game for charity was a chance to live a dream.
"Whether you played sports or you didn't, they talk about team work, they talk about hard work, dedication, commitment. They talk about having another player's back," said Vietnam veteran and former Pittsburgh Steeler, Rocky Bleier.
Medical company, Humana, was the event's biggest sponsor.
"Our goal is to make the communities that we work in 20 percent healthier by the year 2020," said Leslie Young with Humana.
Players from the Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys, Texas A&M, and University of Houston came to play against and support the veterans.
Proceeds from the event will benefit various, local veterans organizations and go back to the WWAFT to continue with the games.