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A Taco Bell team member is trading the drive-thru for the trail this weekend, tackling an ultramarathon to raise money for a local Marine veterans organization. The effort brings together endurance sport, small-business community support and a personal cause that organizers say could help fill urgent needs for former service members.
John Martinez, 34, who works at a Taco Bell franchise in Springfield, will run the 50-mile Ridgeback Ultramarathon on Saturday to benefit the Springfield Marine Support Network, a nonprofit that provides emergency financial aid, housing referrals and family services to Marines and their families. Martinez set a personal fundraising target of $10,000 and began soliciting donations from co?workers, customers and friends three months ago.
Why this matters now
Veterans? organizations report rising demand for short-term assistance as cost-of-living pressures squeeze households. Local fundraisers like Martinez?s translate public goodwill into immediate help ? from utility-bill relief to transportation for medical appointments ? and keep veteran services operational between larger grant cycles.
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Motivation and preparation
Martinez says his commitment is rooted in family history: his uncle served in the Marines and struggled with jobless periods after leaving the military. ?I wanted to do something that mattered and that would get people talking,? he told organizers, describing long training runs at dawn and late-night fundraiser shifts at the restaurant.
His training plan mixed weekly long runs that topped 30 miles with cross-training and deliberate rest days to prevent injury. Local running clubs, customers and Taco Bell colleagues have contributed supplies and pacing support, turning Martinez?s challenge into a community project rather than a solitary endeavor.
What the money will do
The Springfield Marine Support Network says donations from this campaign will be earmarked for immediate-assistance grants and an expansion of its transportation fund, which helps veterans attend medical and counseling appointments. According to the nonprofit, relatively small amounts ? in the low hundreds of dollars ? can cover a month of utilities or several rides to medical care, making targeted fundraising especially effective.
- Runner: John Martinez, Taco Bell team member
- Event: Ridgeback Ultramarathon, 50 miles
- Date: Saturday (local event)
- Beneficiary: Springfield Marine Support Network
- Fundraising goal: $10,000
How people can help
Residents who want to support Martinez?s campaign can donate through the nonprofit?s official donation page or attend a post-race gathering at the Taco Bell on Elm Street, where proceeds from a charity meal will top up the fundraising total. Organizers encourage modest contributions ? even $10 or $25 ? noting that pooled small gifts add up quickly.
Beyond contributions, volunteers are needed to help prepare meals for returning runners and to staff the post-race information table. For the nonprofit, events like these also raise awareness: connecting civilians with veteran services increases the likelihood that struggling veterans will seek help before a crisis.
Martinez plans to run conservatively and focus on finishing rather than setting a personal record. He said his chief hope is that people who follow his effort will gain a clearer sense of the needs facing local veterans and feel empowered to act ? whether by donating, volunteering or spreading the word.
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