Join us for the 7th annual We Defy Gala - an evening to celebrate with our community and support the We Defy mission.
Tickets will be available July 17, 2026.
DATE
September 26, 2026 6:00-11:00pm
LOCATION
The Hall on Dragon
1500 Dragon St. Suites C & D
Dallas, TX 75207
If you would like to become an Event Sponsor, Support the Gala Auction, or have general event questions, please reach out to our National Event Coordinator.
Events@wedefyfoundation.org
John Wayne Walding is a retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class who served nearly 12 years in the military, including seven years with the 3rd Special Forces Group, and completed combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. During the 2008 Battle of Shok Valley, he lost his right leg to sniper fire but continued fighting for four more hours, earning the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his extraordinary bravery. After his injury, he became the first amputee to graduate from Special Forces Sniper School and serve as a Green Beret sniper.
Walding also excelled as an endurance athlete, competing in major marathons and completing the challenging Bataan Death March while carrying a 45-pound rucksack. Following his military career, he became an entrepreneur, founding several businesses and organizations dedicated to supporting veterans, first responders, and their families.
Today, he is a leadership speaker, veteran advocate, and family man who lives in Texas with his wife Amy and their four children.
