On November 7, Liberty students and the Lynchburg community will go the extra mile to show their support for America’s military heroes while raising funds for the National Center for Healthy Veterans.
An average of 18 military veterans take their lives every day, and hundreds of thousands more remain vulnerable and at risk of emotional distress and suicide, according to data collected by the Department of Veteran Affairs.
That’s why since 2023, the Standing for Freedom Center has proudly partnered with Liberty student groups to host the “LU Murph Challenge,” a veteran charity event that supports the National Center for Health Veterans (NCHV) in Altavista, Virginia.
The event, which will be held on November 7, allows Liberty students and the rest of the community to come alongside American veterans and remind them that they are appreciated and never alone in their struggles.
At the heart of the event is an athletic competition named after Lt. Michael Murphy, a Navy Seal who was killed in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005, and was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. One of his favorite workouts involved a one-mile run, followed by 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 air squats, and a second one-mile run. He dubbed it “Body Armor” for its intensity and strength results.
After his tragic passing, the workout was renamed the Murph Challenge to “reflect his longstanding passion to serve this great nation and the beautiful people who make it what it is,” according to Dave Castro, the director of education at CrossFit.
The LU Murph Challenge will be held this Saturday, November 7, at Liberty University. Athletes can choose to participate in competitive or noncompetitive heats, or they can team up with as many as three other participants to form a “Team Murph,” which has quickly become a favorite since the event was introduced.
For those seeking to compete in either the competitive or noncompetitive heats, a $20 registration fee is required, while a $40 flat fee covers a “Team Murph” group of two to four athletes. The non-competitive heat requires participants to complete as much of the “Murph Challenge” as possible within 90 minutes, while the competitive heat requires the challenge to be fully completed within 60 minutes. The “Team Murph” category gives athletes the opportunity to split the workout evenly among their team.
Every single dollar raised through the Murph Challenge, including registrations, sponsorships, and donations, goes directly to the NCHV, a long-term residential facility dedicated to supporting veterans and helping them heal physically, mentally, and spiritually after their invaluable service and sacrifice for our nation. The organization provides numerous services, including counseling, job training, life skills development, and a supportive community to aid and equip veterans with the support and resources they need to fully reintegrate back into society.
A series of special guests are scheduled to speak at the 2026 LU Murph Challenge, including Gen. Bob Dees, president of the National Center for Healthy Veterans; Dr. Dondi Costin, president of Liberty University; and Dr. David Wheeler, Liberty professor of evangelism and the senior executive director of LU Shepherd.
For attendees who are not competing, general admission to the event is $8, and admission gives guests unlimited access to the event, including presentations by keynote speakers and the opportunity to cheer on their friends in the challenge itself.
As Natalie Kingston, president of the LU Murph Challenge, explains,
“This year’s Murph Challenge centers again on the motto of ‘not about me,’ communicating our mission to be humble and serve something greater than ourselves. For the campus and local community- this event is a lot more than a challenging physical test; it is a powerful opportunity to unite, push past our comfort zones, and put our gratitude into action.
Our goal is to actively fight the devastating veteran suicide crisis by raising funds for the National Center for Healthy Veterans. We want every veteran struggling with trauma or mental health to know they are not forgotten, their sacrifices are valued, and there is a network of support dedicated to helping them heal physically, mentally, and spiritually.”
Since its inception three years ago, the LU Murph Challenge has raised over $80,000 in support of veterans. The 2025 event drew 300 participants and provided over $24,000 to NCHV.
This 2026 LU Murph Challenge will be held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Liberty University Indoor Track facility, located at 1501 Liberty Mountain Drive in Lynchburg, Virginia. For more information on the event and to register to join a heat, click HERE.
If you like this article and other content that helps you apply a biblical worldview to today’s politics and culture, consider making a donation here.
