Twenty challengers from 13 states are readying themselves to compete in the fourth annual Durham Warriors Survival Challenge, based on the CBS reality series “Survivor.”

The three-day competition, June 24-26, will be held at Maine Forest Yurts, owned by the 2008 “Survivor: Gabon” million-dollar winner, Bob Crowley, and his wife, Peggy.

The Durham Warriors Survival Challenge is being held two months earlier than in previous years, so that the Crowleys can enjoy more of their summer. The couple’s daughter, Page, has had a major hand in organizing the challenge. The Crowley family and their volunteers spend months each year working on it.

The Durham Warriors Survival Challenge has a “Survivor” theme with a charity twist. The event helps fund the nonprofit Durham Warriors Project, whose mission it is to provide an opportunity for veterans, active duty military and their families to stay at the Maine Forest Yurts free of charge.

In addion to Crowley, former “Survivor” contestants on hand to watch this year include Richard Hatch, Season 1, Borneo; Zoe Zanidakis, Season 4, Marquesas; Yau Man Chan, Season 14, Fiji; Denise Martin, Season 15, China; Kathy Sleckman, Season 16, Fans vs. Favorites; Dr. Jill Behm, Season 21, Nicaragua; Jimmy Tarantino, Season 21, Nicaragua; Nina Poersch and Dan Foley, Season 30, Worlds Apart.

Other previous “Survivor” contestants, whom the Crowleys did not name, are competing in the Durham Warriors Survival Challenge.

The contestants are in it for pride – and fun. They pay to enter, in fact. There’s no monetary prize, but the winner does go home with the prestigious “Bobster,” a trophy made of lobster shells and named after Crowley.

Last year, Wendy Langford of Nokesville, Va., was on a star-studded team that won the Durham Warriors Survival Challenge, and Langford was a star in her own right.

Competing on Team Moz, four of whose seven members had competed in the CBS show “Survivor,” Langford, 47, was the last person standing following a tribal council Sunday morning. Along with Langford, Joel Klug of Milwaukee, a contestant in the very first episode entitled, “Survivor: Borneo” in 2000; and Jill Behm of Erie, Pa., from “Survivor: Nicaragua” in 2010, were the final three contestants up for judgment following three days of contests.

The Crowleys estimated they raised $40,000 during the weekend, not including $10,000 in donations of materials and food.

The Durham Warriors Challenge logo.

All sorts of fun and games go into the Durham Warriors Survival Challenge.

A closer look

The Durham Warriors Survival Challenge is Friday, June 24-Sunday, June 26, at Maine Forest Yurts, Auburn/Pownal Road, Durham. The event runs Friday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., followed by meet-and-greet at the Crowley farm. Concessions are available from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. during the event. Proceeds benefit the Durham Warriors Project, a nonprofit that covers the costs for disabled veterans and nonprofit groups focused on education and family to stay at Maine Forest Yurts. Donations are accepted at the event or online at www.DurhamWarriors.org and www.MaineForestYurts.com.

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