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Service member raises money for fallen soldiers through 4x4x48 challenge

LaMarr Valentine began the 4x4x48 challenge Friday, March 5, to raise money for his fundraiser, Penny for your Thoughts. This fundraiser aims to raise money for fallen soldiers and their families, as well as to show the families that the soldiers and their sacrifices are being remembered.

The 4x4x48 challenge was created by David Goggins, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL and former U.S. Air Force Tactical Air Control Party member, in his memoir "Can't Hurt Me." The 4x4x48 challenge encourages the audience to run 4 miles every four hours for 48 hours to support a fundraiser. After reading this book, Valentine said he wanted to try the challenge for himself.

As an active duty member in the U.S. Navy, Valentine is experienced in fitness and the field of physical health, so he said he felt prepared to face this challenge. Along with being active duty military, Valentine is working as a hospital corpsman, financial adviser and a delivery driver. He is also pursuing his master's degree in public health care.

In December 2019, Valentine was volunteering at Miramar National Cemetery for Wreaths Across America when he was inspired to start his fundraiser, "Penny for Your Thoughts." During Wreaths Across America, veterans traditionally places coins on the tombstones when they visit to show their loved ones that the soldier is remembered.

Each coin has a different meaning. If you leave a penny, it means you visited. A nickel means that you and the deceased soldier trained together. If you served with the soldier, you leave a dime. Placing a quarter has the largest impact because it means that the visitor was there when that soldier was killed.

When Valentine learned of this tradition, he said he was deeply affected and wanted to share it with others through his fundraiser.

"This fundraiser touched my heart, and I wanted to help it grow. I wanted to give back to the people who have given so much to us," he said. "It got me thinking about my family members who are buried, and I wondered how they were being remembered."

Valentine said he began raising the word about his 4x4x48 challenge via social media and encouraged friends and family to donate to his cause. His goal was to raise $1,200, but he exceeded his goal by raising more than $1,400 so far.

Starting at 8 p.m., Friday, March 5, Valentine began his 4x4x48 challenge and ran 4 miles every four hours for 48 hours. He stuck to it, running 4 miles in the dark at 4 a.m. He said he was determined to finish the challenge, completing all twelve 4-mile runs. He dedicated each of his runs to a fallen service member and their family.

Valentine said he was pleased with the positive feedback from the public during his runs as well as the comments left on social media.

"A few people from the community stopped me during my runs to show support," he said. "The feedback was all very positive, everyone liked what I was doing and supported the cause."

The funds donated will go to the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation in remembrance of fallen soldiers, and he said the fundraiser may become something more: a nonprofit organization or an annual fundraiser. Valentine said he intends to keep this tradition alive and continue remembering the fallen soldiers.

"This challenge gave me the opportunity to remember all of the fallen service members. They are no longer here, but we are," he said. "We still have air in our lungs. We've made it through what will probably be the most difficult year as a species that we will ever have in our lifetime. So what are you going to do with that air? Are you going to stay in your comfort zone and not worry about pursuing those dreams? Or are you going to realize that it is up to you to make the moves toward what it is you really want?"

To learn more and donate to the "Penny for your Thoughts" fundraiser, visit https://www.facebook.com/donate/865561247597873/.

 

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