by SCPO Keith Jermyn, USN, Hingham Director of Veterans Services; edited by Gabrielle Martin
Hingham resident Tom Hoffman and another donor (anonymous) volunteered to match dollar-for-dollar any youths donations to participate in the Semi-Annual Murph Challenge, which was hosted at Mass Movement Cross Fit on Lincoln Street under the leadership of owner Mike Monarch.
To date, they have managed to raise about $3,500!
Tom Hoffman shares, “We had ten 7th graders from Hingham Youth Football help, and the donations came from the families of the 36 players on the 7th grade football team.”
The ten participating players split into pairs, with each player completing a half-modified Murph. This means each individual involved did 50 ring pullups, 100 pushups, and 150 air squats. Impressed? Well, they also all walked a mile first and then, after they completed their exercises, they jogged another mile!
Tom even joined in on the fun: “Yours truly put on a 20lb. weigh vest and walked the first mile with the kids, then took the vest off and did 100 ring pull-ups, 200 pushups and 300 air squats.” Hoffman then says, “The vest went back on and while the kids jogged, I walked the last mile. I will be having my head examined tomorrow!”
Talk about committing to a good cause!
The event was a success as the kids really enjoyed themselves and were amazed to learn the story of Lt. Michael Murphy, USN Seal, who was a posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his selfless actions in Afghanistan 2005.