Greetings Family and Friends!

Thank you very much for taking this time to view our fundraising page! The Memorial Day Marathon Races take place in the Berkshires Hills of Massachusetts and help support a cause that we consider to be extremely important: our nation’s veterans. Having donated to veterans charities in the past we have decided to play a larger role this Memorial Day by raising money and taking part in these festivities. This event is about much more than friends gathering and competing in the various races, it is truly about supporting the veterans and veteran’s families for which Memorial Day is celebrated. We have decided to do so by raising money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF), an organization that we are proud to support.

Last year our close friends, Sam Russo and Carrie Holland, began raising money in concert with The Memorial Day Marathon Committee by asking close friends and family to donate money to the IFHF. After exceeding their own expectations, they have asked others to join in their efforts. This year we decided to create Team Markward and ask you to donate money to this cause.

Through my two tours in Afghanistan, I have witnessed first hand the courage and selflessness of the Soldiers that serve our nation. Sadly, this comes at a high cost for many Soldiers and their families. The effects of witnessing loss of life, sustaining injuries, and grappling with post- traumatic stress are just some of the daily struggles our Soldiers experience when returning home from combat. Families and loved ones share these struggles with their returning Soldier. When Soldiers do not return home their families are left grief stricken and may have any number of additional challenges to face. It is absolutely critical that we honor the sacrifices that members of the Armed Forces and their families make. One of the most important ways that we can honor them is ensuring that they are provided the post deployment care that they need. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is an organization that shares our vision of how service men/women and their families deserve to be treated after sacrificing so very much.

Team Markward has set an ambitious goal of $5,000, and we need your support to reach it! Beyond the money that we raise, The Memorial Day Marathon Committee is contributing a portion of the race proceeds to IFHF. This website will allow participants like ourselves to directly raise money for the fund. Your donation will assist families who have lost a loved one, or Soldiers suffering severe physical or mental wounds from our current combat operations. We encourage you to visit the IFHF website at http://www.fallenheroesfund.org/ in order to better understand exactly how your contribution will assist this great organization.

Please consider contributing to our effort by making a monetary donation through this website or even signing up for the race yourself!

Sincerely,

Taylor and Laura

Thank you for your support, and remember no donation is too small!
http://www.memorialdaymarathon.com/