LJ Winnefeld: Marine Corps Marathon Training Fundraiser

On September 7, 2017, I was sitting in my room as a senior at the United States Naval Academy when I took a call that would forever change my family’s life. The news was so shocking I could barely comprehend what my father was telling me over the phone. My brother, Jonathan, had just died of an opioid-related overdose. He had been in recovery for over a year, worked as an EMT, and had just started his college journey.

In response to his death, my parents founded the Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic (SAFE) Project. Since its conception in November 2017, SAFE Project has helped countless individuals and families across the nation who are struggling with addiction.

This October, I will run the Marine Corps Marathon in Jonathan’s honor. As I train over the next few months, I am launching a fundraiser to raise awareness and support for SAFE Project. From July 1 through October 26 (the date of the Marathon), I am asking for donation pledges to SAFE Project for every mile I run in training. Whether it is 10 cents or 10 dollars per mile, your pledge will directly help build a community for those struggling with addiction to achieve sustained recovery.

If you choose to pledge, you will receive regular email updates on my training progress, as well as highlights of the incredible work SAFE Project is doing. You can also follow the fundraiser through my personal social media accounts (@run_for_safe and LinkedIn), or here on the SAFE Project website.