LMM is proud to be an official charity partner of the 2026 Cleveland Marathon, an exciting event that brings together athletes from all walks of life to support important causes. LMM’s own Benjamin Turney, Program Director of Youth Resiliency Services, is taking on the challenge of running the full marathon again this year! Read more about Benjamin in his own words below.
Hello Everyone,
My name is Benjamin Turney, Program Director for Youth Resiliency Services (YRS). I am excited to participate in my second marathon in an effort to raise money for our youth in need. With race weekend quickly approaching, I wanted to share more with all of you about my reason for running and the impact of your support.
As the Program Director for YRS, my role involves guiding young people, many of whom come from backgrounds of abuse and neglect, through a transformative process of healing and growth. The program’s mission is to build resilience in young individuals, offering them the support and resources they need to rise above their circumstances and thrive. I am passionate about seeing these young people grow stronger and more confident in their futures.
Last year, thanks to a great outpouring of generosity, we raised over $10,000 to support YRS. Part of that money funded the renovation of an underutilized space at our youth shelter to create an exercise room – The YRS Fitness Club! This year we plan on using the funds raised to provide the youth with engaging enrichment activities and other resources they need to thrive. I am thrilled LMM and YRS in the marathon and hope to inspire others to help us hit our fundraising goal again this year. Every gift, no matter the amount, will have an impact in meeting the needs of youth facing homelessness.
Benjamin’s participation in the Cleveland Marathon offers an exciting opportunity to raise funds for LMM’s Youth Resiliency Services, which plays a crucial role in transforming the lives of youth experiencing housing instability in Cleveland. Click the ‘Support Benjamin’ button to directly provide a gift to LMM Youth Resiliency Services in honor of Benjamin’s marathon journey.
Get Involved
If Ben’s story inspires you or someone you know to run this year, click here to register for the Cleveland Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, or 5K. You can choose LMM as your fundraising beneficiary when you sign up!
For more information or to learn how you can help, please contact Brian Sturgeon, LMM’s Director of Individual Giving, at bsturgeon@lutheranmetro.org.
Together, let’s make a difference—one step at a time
