REDCON1: The Murph Challenge. Honoring Fallen Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy.
/By Bernard B. Kerik
The coronavirus may have shut down events and activities throughout the country, but it didn’t stop our veterans and first responders from participating in The Murph Challenge – an annual event that honors fallen Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy who died during a mission in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005.
The Murph Challenge is more than an intense workout, which consists of a 1-mile run, 100 pull ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats and another mile run to finish out the workout – it’s meant to push participants to their physical limits to honor the memory of Lt. Murphy.
In 2005, Lt. Murphy was in charge of a 4-man SEAL Team in support of Operation Red Wings, a mission tasked with finding a key anti-coalition commander in Afghanistan. After being spotted by goat herders, a fierce gun battle ensued with Taliban fighters. Despite suffering very serious gunshot wounds, Lt. Murphy risked his life to save the lives of his teammates and fellow SEAL Team members.
Knowing that backup was needed, Lt. Murphy risked his life by going back into enemy fire in order to get better reception in his call for assistance. In pain and suffering from grave wounds, Lt. Murphy calmly provided his unit’s location and the number of enemy fighters. Returning to a safer position, he continued fighting, even saving the life of a teammate before he was killed.
For his brave and selfless actions, Lt. Murphy was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on October 27, 2007.
Since The Murph Challenge began in 2012, they have raised more than $1 million for the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation and Murph Navy Seal Museum in New York.
This year, The Murph Challenge teamed up with Florida-based REDCON1, the nation’s fastest-growing supplement company in history. And despite 90-degree heat and high humidity, participants packed the parking lot of the REDCON1 Gym – home to this year’s event.
Founded by industry expert and entrepreneur Aaron Singerman, REDCON1 literally means the highest state of readiness. Whether a soccer mom, active duty military, a veteran, first responder or a body builder, REDCON1 reaches and serves a diverse clientele.
And 38 percent of their customers nationwide are military, veterans, police and paramedics – heroes who keep us safe and protect us from danger.
Today, REDCON1 is sold in over 80 countries, online direct and at major retailers such as Vitamin Shoppe, Dick’s Sporting Goods, GNC and at military exchanges and commissaries. The products have won the Vitamin Shoppe brand of the year, Stacked 3D Brand of the year two years in a row and bodybuilding.com’s fan-favorite brand.
But REDCON1 is more than just a supplement company. They are on a mission to serve those who serve us. It’s why during the pandemic, they kept their gym open for local police and first responders – and free of charge. In June, Singerman donated 20,000 protein bars to South Florida hospitals and local law enforcement.
And on the REDCON1 website, they offer a special discount to military, first responders and active or retired law enforcement for all REDCON1 apparel and products.
Last month, the REDCON1 Foundation paid the mortgage of Marine veteran Courtney Brown, who lost his job and tested positive for COVID-19 after buying his first house with his wife. Fox News host Shannon Bream honored the foundation for their work in assisting the Brown family in her regular Midnight Hero segment.
But that’s not all, every day, and out of the news headlines, Aaron Singerman and his REDCON1 team quietly serve the local first responder and law enforcement community – not for headlines – but because it’s the right thing to do.
During these challenging and unprecedented times, the first responder and law enforcement community should know this – the REDCON1 family is grateful for the work that you do and the sacrifices that you make to keep us safe.
