Rather than using Memorial Day weekend to spread political propaganda or bash fellow actors for their political positions, actors Chris Pratt and John Krasinski encouraged Americans to honor America’s fallen veterans by undergoing the “The Murph Challenge.”
According to Newsweek, both Pratt and Krasinski announced on their social media profiles over the weekend that they would be undergoing “The Murph Challenge” and encouraged others to join them. The exercise challenge honors U.S. Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy (played by Taylor Kitsch in the movie “Lone Survivor”). He was killed while serving in Afghanistan in 2005 by exposing himself to gunfire, enabling famed Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell to escape.
“The Murph Challenge is a fundraiser for the Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy Scholarship Foundation and in 2018, raised almost $250,000,” reports Newsweek. “The foundation currently awards 27 or more scholarships each year.”
More information on the Murph Challenge from its website:
The Murph Challenge is the Official annual fundraiser of the LT. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation, presented by Forged®. It is also one of the primary means of funding for the Foundation on an annual basis. YOUR support is what drives our success!
Since 2014, Forged® has raised over $1,000,000+ for the LT. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation through The Murph Challenge campaign. In 2018, The Murph Challenge Fundraiser provided a vehicle to raise nearly $250,000 in order to begin construction on the LT Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum/Sea Cadet Training Facility in Long Island, NY! In addition to that, and ONLY with such overwhelming support and success, the Foundation was also able to add four additional scholarships in 2018, now providing the opportunity to award 27 or more scholarships each and every year!
Wearing a Murph Challenge T-shirt, actor Chris Pratt released a video of himself working out at The Unbreakable Gym in Los Angeles last week. “We got a big group of people doing The Murph Challenge this year to celebrate Memorial Day and to memorialize our fallen heroes, especially Lieutenant Michael Murphy,” Pratt said.
The “Guardians of the Galaxy” star also thanked Lt. Michael Murphy for his brave sacrifice. “Thank you to Lt. Michael P Murphy and the millions of soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We live this life because you laid down yours, gratitude and prayers for all of you,” Pratt said.
On Thursday of last week, “A Quiet Place” star John Krasinski also encouraged followers to join in “The Murph Challenge.”
“On Monday, remember to stop at some point in your day, think and say, ‘thank you,’ to all the brave men and women who laid down their lives for you,” Krasinski said. “If you want to do something a little extra special on Monday, or before then, take the Murph Challenge.”
The challenge begins with “a one-mile run, followed by 100 pull-ups, then 200 pushups, and then 300 squats,” according to Newsweek, which is then followed up by another one-mile run. People who complete the challenge then submit their time to The Murph Challenge website.