LMM is proud to announce our official partnership with the Cleveland Marathon, an exciting event that brings together athletes from all walks of life to support important causes. This year, friend of LMM Beth Sersig is taking on the challenge of running the full marathon.
While she is a lifelong sports participant, Beth took up long distance running after age 50. Over the years she has played softball, volleyball, field and ice hockey, and in adulthood has done extensive backpacking. Now, jogging and “training” for half marathons and marathons are her mainstay exercise. This began nineteen years ago with an invitation from her then college age daughter to join her in their first half marathon. Beth, her daughter and one son, now have completed a number of races together, many times raising funds for various non-profits. Beth is pleased to join LMM’s Youth Resiliency Services Program Director Ben Turney as he also takes on the full marathon again this year to support YRS.
Beth’s connection to LMM goes back to the organization’s beginnings. Her father was a Lutheran minister involved in calling Rev. Richard Sering to Cleveland in the late 1960s to be LMM’s founding Executive Director. Beth has been a longtime donor to LMM. She also recently finished twelve years as an LMM board member and now continues with committee participation. A favorite effort of hers is being one of the “Sewing Ladies” at the Lakeside Avenue men’s shelter once a month, doing mending, repairs and alterations. Now retired, Beth’s career as a family physician was guided by the mission of improving the health of patients, families, and communities. This aligns with LMM’s mission, to challenge injustices faced by the oppressed, the forgotten, the hurting, by providing responsive solutions, voice and hope, which exemplifies its commitment to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly.
For Beth, the path to the marathon brings on both excitement and some anxiety, particularly since the early 2026 weather was less than cooperative for the training schedule. However, based on her past history, she will finish the course. Her goals remain to finish and to not have the race personnel call her emergency contact – and, as in past runs, meet her daughter after they each reach the finish line.
Beth’s participation in the Cleveland Marathon offers an 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. If you would like to make a gift in recognition of Beth’s marathon journey, please click the ‘Support Beth’ button below.
Get Involved
If Beth’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
