The scene was nighttime, sometime past 11 p.m. I was in a corral, awaiting the start of a half marathon race.  With me was my daughter, Rachael.  The gun sounded, and we all made our way across the start line.  Shortly thereafter, Rachael said to me, “Dad, I want to join the Marines.” I took a moment as I was running to take these words in, and then when I looked her way, she had already gone ahead of me. Not willing to wait until we finished 2 ½ hours later, I endeavored to catch her and discuss her decision. 

Rachael has always been a thoughtful and outgoing person who makes others around her feel at home and comfortable. She had and continues to have a willingness to serve others. Her compassion for others and willingness to help continued throughout college and ultimately culminated in her passion to serve our country through the Marines. I supported her decision from that day at the race where I first understood where her heart was in this matter to this current day. Rachael became a Marine in May 2017. 

I started running about six years ago by training for the Mercedes Benz 5K Corporate Run. Then, when Team in Training (TNT) came to our offices, I joined TNT to run a half marathon that fall to raise funds for leukemia and lymphoma. I had not run for a charity since, but this year, I wanted to run for another charity that is also really making a difference. After reviewing the list of charity partners of the New York City Marathon, I found the Semper Fi Fund, which provides financial assistance and other support to post-9/11 combat wounded, critically ill, and catastrophically injured members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.

The men and women who serve our country in the U.S. Armed Forces have a mental toughness that is fueled not just by a dedication to themselves, but also by a dedication to a higher cause. Mental toughness is resilience, an ability to stick to something regardless of obstacles, to be goal-oriented, to always try to improve, to be dependable and consistent. Their willingness to sacrifice for that higher cause, our country—and, therefore, for each of us who calls America home—motivates me to do what I can for those individuals that have endured extreme hardships in their quest to serve that higher cause. This is where the Semper Fi Fund comes in: https://semperfifund.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/SFF-Talking-Points_Jan2018.pdf.

Our nation’s most severely wounded and critically ill servicemen and women can turn to the Semper Fi Fund for help rebuilding their lives after the personal devastations of war.

The Semper Fi Fund provides help in many forms within the following areas:

• Direct Financial Assistance as catastrophic injuries inevitably cause financial  hardship
• Wellness Programs focused on post-traumatic growth, neurofeedback, healing through sport, and other therapies
• Transition Programs to help veterans find meaning and purpose after life in the military through education and career assistance, apprenticeship training programs, and by reconnecting them with fellow veterans through military unit reunions.

In addition to supporting veterans, the Semper Fi Fund recognizes the toll that caregivers face in the day-to-day reality of caring for wounded, ill, and injured service members. The Semper Fi Fund steps in to help by providing support, education. and resources for caregivers.

Since May 2004, the Semper Fi Fund has provided $162 million in assistance to over 20,000 veterans, and the charity has received the highest possible ratings from Charity Watch and Charity Navigator. I am asking if you would view the Semper Fi Fund’s website at https://semperfifund.org/ to see more clearly the extent of the hope and assistance they provide. Please consider joining me in support of their mission.