CAFAmerica, a member organization of the UK-based Charities Aid Foundation international network of offices, announced that it has created a new Donor Advised Fund (DAF) to allow Americans to support the movie-inspired “Gumpathon” marathon across the United States.
CAFAmerica is working with race organizers to distribute the funds to charities helping severely wounded soldiers.
Five active soldiers and one triple amputee veteran will run from New York City to Los Angeles, in a relay formation, visiting military bases along the way. They will be running coast-to-coast, recreating the fictional character Forrest Gump’s epic run in the Oscar-winning film starring Tom Hanks. Charitable proceeds from the race will go directly to support three organizations helping wounded veterans: The Marine Semper Fi Fund in the United States, HELP for HEROES and The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund in the UK.
The new CAFAmerica DAF was launched in late July in order to be available for U.S. fundraising activities devoted to the race, which begins on Sept. 10 and is anticipated to be concluded by Nov. 11.
“Our new Donor Advised Fund for The Gumpathon will distribute charitable gifts to our most severely-wounded soldiers returning from conflict,” Susan Saxon-Harrold, CAFAmerica chief executive officer, stated in a press release. “CAFAmerica is proud to work with The Gumpathon and partner in this noble effort of fundraising for disabled veterans who protect our freedoms,”
The Gumpathon runners will cover as many as 88 miles each day – the equivalent of 34 marathons each over the 2-month period.
