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3rd Annual Beat The Bridge
Apr 1, 2017 @ 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
3rd Annual Jacksonville Beat the Bridge Race Rallies Community To Raise Funds & Awareness for Injured Semper Fi Fund Veterans
April 1, 2017
Marine Wife and Amputee Spearheads Fundraising Run for Wounded, Critically Ill and Injured Service Members
Who: Semper Fi Fund’s Team Semper Fi Program, community athletes, fundraisers of the veteran nonprofit and Chris Ingraham, race founder and Semper Fi Fund Community Sports Coordinator
WHAT: This weekend, more than 750 runners, handcyclists, and walkers will rally for the third annual Jacksonville Beat the Bridge Fun Run, raising donations and awareness for Semper Fi Fund to support wounded, critically ill and injured service members and their families. The 10k, 5k, 1-mile fun run/walk is well on its way to raising more than $25,000 thanks to the supporters in the Jacksonville community and our race partners.
Please join us April 1. This race highlights the beauty of the city of Jacksonville, the commitment the military community and local community have for working together, and the determination and optimism of local athletes. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit the Semper Fi Fund.
WHEN: Saturday, April 1, 8:00am – 12pm
WHERE: New Bridge Middle School, 401 New Bridge Street, Jacksonville, NC
Why: Because Jacksonville is a military community and military is committed to military! This race highlights the continued determination and optimism of local athletes to raise awareness and proceeds to benefit the Semper Fi Fund. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit service members and their families of all branches of the United States Armed Forces.
Available interviewees:
Chris Ingraham, race founder and Semper Fi Fund Community Sports Coordinator
Race participants and volunteers, like Michelle Smith from Ainsley’s Angels
Chris Ingraham always wished there was a race in Jacksonville that crossed the Bridge, a scenic route the avid runner often took herself. She had also been thinking for some time of ways to help injured service members and their families. A Marine wife and amputee, having lost her arm to cancer as a child, she related on multiple levels to the challenges they faced.
“I only have one arm, so I understand the desire to live a very active lifestyle despite missing a limb, or other injuries,” says Ingraham. “Beat the Bridge was a joining of all of my passions — running, volunteering and the Marine Corps.”
For Ingraham, Semper Fi Fund stood apart for its unparalleled commitment to the men and women they help: “Semper Fi Fund makes sure every dollar goes where it needs to go — they are all about giving back to service members and their families, and that’s what drives me.”
And as an athlete, Ingraham was eager to support Semper Fi Fund’s competitive athletics program, Team Semper Fi: “I love their motto of ‘Recovery Through Sport;’ service members by nature are competitive, so even if an injury alters their lifestyle, it doesn’t take away the sense of competitiveness that’s deep inside them.” Ingraham continued, “I know how important getting outside and being competitive is. I love it when you see service members out there, and that they help people to continue to live an active life.”
“On behalf of Ainsley’s Angels in Eastern Carolina, we can’t thank you enough for putting on such an AMAZING event today! We were honored to participate and support such an important and worthy cause! We can’t wait for next year ..it will be on our race calendar or sure!” — Michelle Kendall Smith