Dear Karen,

It’s been a tough year of ups, downs and uncertainty. As we reflect this holiday season, one thing is certain. Our work is not finished, until everyone has a chance to cross the start. In addition to working with youth and adults with disabilities around the world, we empower the veterans who served via our Achilles Freedom Team.

They were busy this year! After conquering 400-miles of our summer Achilles Resilience Relay from North Carolina to New York City, the team collectively crossed over 60 start lines! The fall marathon tour was like no other, with Berlin, Chicago, Boston, Detroit and New York stacked closer together than usual. The comeback was important.

Jeff Lewis, a 9.5 year veteran of the U.S. Army who recently accomplished a coveted Boston Marathon qualifying time at Chicago this October says, “After you are injured, you are always looking to get your freedoms back. That’s one of the things you look towards. Being able to ride gives me that sense I had pre-injury.”

A Syracuse University study found that physical activity enhances well-being in veterans with disabilities including reducing post-traumatic stress disorder, improving determination and inner strength, providing a sense of achievement and overall motivation for living.

Help us ensure that veterans like Jeff have the opportunity to bond with peers over a shared mission: conquering a marathon.

Make a gift today and have double the impact. All donations made by December 31 will be matched up to $50,000 as part of the MGL Match Challenge.