"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5-6
I know that it’s been a while since the last post and I wanted to let everyone know that the 2011 Ultra Running season is underway. This year has started off well, to date I have completed 4 Ultras (Willis River Trail 50K, the ICY 8 Hour Adventure Run, Seneca Creek Greenway 50K, Bel Monte 50 Miler, and The Sweetwater 50K). My next event is this coming Saturday in Bedford, VA – The Promise Land 50K.
This is the fourth year that I will be supporting the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and I have included a link to the 2011 fundraising page below, it has changed from last year’s site http://www.active.com/donate/SFFCOMMATHL2011/HUFFER2011 . Over the past 3 years we have managed to raise approximately $14,000.00 due to gracious contribution and support. I know it's a rather difficult time, financially, for everyone and to ask someone to give is even more difficult. But we are getting more and more injured service members back. We had over a dozen double amputee or higher injuries come into Bethesda Hospital this past couple of months! This fundraising effort is helping them. It's going to be a complicated time for them and the Semper Fi Fund is able to make a major impact on their lives when it matters the most.
Since I started working with the Semper Fi Fund, more than 4 years ago, I have seen them grow as an organization. Due to their streamlined structure they are able to keep overhead very low – at 5% – which allows more of our donations go where they are truly needed.
The basic ideal that drives the Semper Fi Funds effort is simple: as much as these American heroes have sacrificed, they deserve the best care and support available in their hour of need. Injuries are often severe, and the road to recovery or rehabilitation can be long and costly. Many of those that the Fund work with must have their homes modified, or even move into a new home designed to accommodate a serious disability; adaptive transportation is needed. The list goes on and on, and so do the bills. That’s where the efforts and support of the Semper Fi Fund come in.
Since establishing this fund in 2004, they have issued close to 26,000 grants totaling more than $46 million to thousands of our heroes and their families. Clearly, the program is working. But our challenges are actually increasing, especially due to the level of severe trauma sustained in areas like Afghanistan and Iraq.
Tax-deductible contributions make up the lifeblood of the Semper Fi Fund. Whether the donation is large or small, a one-time gift or ongoing endowment, you have the power to make a real difference, here and now – no matter where in the world you live.
I have dedicated my running effort s, once again, to those that protect and serve. This year’s goal event is to complete the Old Dominion 100 Mile Endurance Run on the 4th and 5th of June. I have a couple more races prior to this event and then I will attempt to complete the run in less than 24 hours. I will try and do a better job updating the blog site with race reports.
Thanks again for all of your support, please join me in spreading the Semper Fi message and supporting this noble cause.
God Bless and Semper Fi,
Huffer
