Local Non-Profit Raises Funds for Veterans with Memorial Day Weekend Workout
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — This Memorial Day weekend, a local non-profit took action to honor fallen veterans while raising much-needed funds to support those still living with the challenges of reintegrating into civilian life.
The Resilience Project, a group dedicated to helping veterans transition back to everyday life, held its 2nd Annual Memorial Day Murph Workout on Saturday at the House Barbell Club in Peoria.
The event saw dozens of participants come together to take on the grueling workout, which includes a one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 body weight squats and another mile run.
This physically demanding challenge was designed to both honor and remember the sacrifice of fallen Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, who lost his life during a combat mission in Afghanistan.
Ben Deige, Marketing Director of the Resilience Project, shared why this event is so important.
'22 veterans a day commit suicide in the United States,' Deige said. 'We believe that's unacceptable. So we're doing our part to help lower that number and ultimately get it to zero here in the Peoria area.'
This year's event raised over $6,000, which will go directly into the Resilience Project, helping fund their programs that support Peoria-area veterans. This includes mental health resources, physical fitness support, and other essential services designed to ease the transition back to civilian life.
By combining fitness and fundraising, the event highlighted the resilience of both the veterans it serves and the community that supports them.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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