“All of us at the Fund are humbled and inspired by the athletes who choose to represent and support the Fund by raising money for our critical mission, as well as all the staff and volunteers who support them. It’s always a weekend to remember!” – Karen Guenther, President, CEO, and Founder

QUANTICO, Va. (PRWEB)
October 23, 2019

With the 44th annual Marine Corps Marathon in Arlington, Virginia, this weekend, the Semper Fi Fund is anticipating bringing its largest charity partner team ever to “The People’s Marathon.” The event marks 8 years of the Semper Fi Fund (SFF) being the Marathon’s largest charity partner, with more than 750 athletes.

“The Marine Corps Marathon is always one of the highlights of the year for all of us at the Fund,” said Karen Guenther, President, CEO and Founder of the Semper Fi Fund. “Last year, we had more than 400 Community Athletes, and we raised over $500,000 in support of our mission. We’re hoping to exceed that at this year’s event! All of us at the Fund are humbled and inspired by the athletes who choose to represent and support the Fund by raising money for our critical mission, as well as all the staff and volunteers who support them. It’s always a weekend to remember!”

Team Semper Fi (TSF), the Semper Fi Fund’s adaptive sports program for wounded, ill and injured Service members, will also have its largest showing to date at the 44th Marine Corps Marathon, embodying the team’s motto “Recovery Through Sport.” TSF will have 10 athletes running the MCM 50K, 80 running the full marathon, 23 hand-cyclists, and 31 athletes running their first marathon. Rob Jones, a USMC veteran, motivational speaker, Paralympic athlete, and candidate for the VA 10th Congressional District 2020 election will be running the 50K for Team Semper FI.

The weekend includes a pre-race pasta dinner, which this year will be hosted by actor J.W. Cortes, known to television viewers as Detective Alvarez in Gotham and Agent Suarez in The Blacklist.

“I’m honored to be joining my brothers and sisters at the 44th Marine Corps Marathon,” said Cortes, who in 2017 ran both the 10k event in the Marine Corps Marathon and the New York City Marathon, both in support of the Semper Fi Fund. “I’m proud to be lending my support to the Fund, which is doing amazing work in providing assistance to those who have given, and continue to give, so much to us.”

The keynote speaker for the Semper Fi Fund’s annual pasta dinner will be General Joseph F. Dunford Jr. General Dunford served as the 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, and the principal military advisor to the President. He also served as the 36th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 2010 – 2012, the 32nd Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from October 2010 – December 2012 and was the Commander of the International Security Assistance Force & US Forces Afghanistan from February 2013 to August 2014.

Miss D.C. for America 2019, Megan Eunpu, will also be running the MCM 10K. With her charity, Operation XYZ, Megan will be running the MCM 10K, and is hoping to raise over $2,500 for the Semper Fi Fund as well as Service members and their families. The Semper Fi Fund is honored to be the first non-profit to receive Operation WYZ’s support.

“The Semper Fi Fund has already done so much for injured Veterans, and their Families,” said Eunpu. “having a charity to run in support of fuels the fire even more! That is why I created Operation XYZ and am so proud to support the Semper Fi Fund for the first operation.”

The Marine Corps Marathon is the largest marathon in the world that doesn’t offer prize money, instead choosing to celebrate the honor, courage and commitment of all finishers. Over the years, it’s become known as “the best marathon for beginners.” SFF has 78 community athletes running their first marathon this year.

Those wishing to join the Fund October 27 can register online by visiting http://www.semperfifund.org/marine-corps-marathon-2019.

For press information and to arrange interviews with J.W. Cortes, Megan Eunpu, or any of the athletes running for the Semper Fi Fund, please contact John Schiavi, Semper Fi Fund, at john.schiavi@semperfifund.org or 781-354-6826

About the Semper Fi Fund

The Semper Fi Fund provides urgently needed resources and lifetime support for post-9/11 combat wounded, critically ill and catastrophically injured members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. Case Managers from the Fund work one-on-one with service members and veterans to understand and support their individual needs right now and throughout their lifetimes. The Fund keeps its overhead extremely low in order to have the greatest impact on the lives of service members and veterans and has been awarded the highest ratings from watchdog groups: A+ from CharityWatch (one of only two veteran nonprofits to receive this rating last year), eight consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator (an achievement attained by only 3% of rated charities) and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. Learn more at http://www.semperfifund.org.

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