Become a Champion
for our cause

Champions compete under the Guardian Revival banner to break mental health stigmas & raise awareness so we can improve the lives of veterans & first responders

Upcoming Events

Athletes with existing competitions, races, and events may partner with us to become a Champion and represent Guardian Revival.

As a non-profit & charity partner for events, we also have secured limited entries to upcoming events. Apply as a runner now for a chance to compete on our behalf.

  • 2024 Rock'n'Roll San Diego

    Full Marathon entries available

    Sunday, June 2, 2024

  • 2024 Marine Corps Marathon

    Full Marathon entries available

    Sunday, October 27, 2024

  • 2024 NYC Marathon

    Full Marathon entries available

    Sunday, November 3, 2024

  • 2024 Philadelphia Marathon

    Full Marathon entries available

    Saturday, November 23, 2024

  • 2024 Honolulu Marathon

    Full Marathon entries available

    Sunday, December 8, 2024

  • 2025 Berlin Marathon

    Full Marathon entries available

    Sunday, September 28, 2025

Apply to Run

Be a Champion

What does it mean to be a Guardian Champion?

We are thrilled to partner with amateur & professional athletes who want to compete on our behalf to raise awareness of our organization & programs.

  • We work with both amateur and professional athletes.

    Athletes may be civilians or have guardian backgrounds (experience as military and/or first responder).

    Champions may be participants / recipients of our programs. However, when in the capacity of a Champion, you are promoting & supporting our organization.

  • If you’re interested in a specific event for which we already have Guardian Revival Champion entries, please find the relevant interest form to apply.

    If you have an upcoming event that you’re already registered for, we’re happy to discuss becoming your charity partner for fundraising.

    If you’re interested in a new event, please reach out to discuss options for how we can potentially support your entry.

  • Guardian Revival will work with Champions to pay for race fees and training gear / equipment. For those eligible, Guardian Revival may cover a portion of travel expenses.

  • All Champions will receive Guardian Revival gear prior to their event, plus extra for family and friends if requested & available.

  • We will discuss a fundraising goal / expectation with Champions. Guardian Revival will create a fundraising page and can help with logistics & assets. It is primarily the Champion’s responsibility to spread the word, but we may promote their events and/or pages as well.

  • Champions are expected to share their events, competitions, games, races, etc and fundraising initiatives on social media & tag @guardianrevival.

Take their word for it

Why our Champions compete for us

  • Sully [Pro MMA fighter]

    “Everybody's going through their own fight in a lot of ways, and I think veterans and first responders who have been through seriously traumatic events or a daily fight that's a lot tougher than what most people need to deal with. If I can accomplish something with fighting besides just elevating myself, that means a lot to me as a person. If I can raise some money for the cause and provide some inspiration for some first responders and military veterans, that matters.”

  • Rob Williams [Runner]

    “I don’t think you can be around Alex and his team and the people associated with Guardian Revival and not want to do something. There’s a feeling that if we do this right, we actually save lives and help people and bring awareness, and that’s a massive motivation.”

  • Phil Schwarz [Runner]

    “I was in the military for eight years as a combat engineer… this is going to be my first attempt at New York City [Marathon] and obviously I’m running it for myself to begin with, but I wanted to help somebody else out, and our first responders, our veterans really need our support. To me, what Guardian Revival does to help out guardians is above most and they have great programs. I wanted to put my heart into it to do what I could to help.”

Our Champions’ Sports

  • Running

    5K, 10K, Half Marathons, Marathons, and Ultras, oh my! Whether you’re competing for a place, PR, or just personal growth, we want our wings on your back when you cross the finish line.

  • Triathlons

    From short sprints to full IRONMAN triathlons, you take on the challenge of the elements, competitors, and yourself as you swim, bike, and run — and we hope our mission will help you fly down the course.

  • MMA & Boxing

    When you step into the ring, fight for something greater. You might be taking your opponents down, but you’ll be lifting our guardians up — and we appreciate it.

  • Unique Events

    From the Iditarod to cross-country cycling trips, if you find a special event you want to compete in, we’d love to be part of your journey.

Past Events

  • NYC Marathon

    Full Marathon

    November 5, 2023

  • NYC Half Marathon

    Half Marathon

    March 17, 2024

  • LA Marathon

    Full & Half Marathon

    March 17, 2024

  • IRONMAN Florida

    IRONMAN 70.3

    November 6, 2021

  • Sea to Sea

    72 Hour Expedition Race

    February 22 – 25, 2024

  • Atlantic Ocean Row

    Tenerife, Spain, to Antigua

    December 2023 - January 2024

  • Iditarod

    Iditarod Trail Invitational

    March 2 - 11, 2020

Champion

Chronicles

Hall of Champions

  • Sully Cauley

    MMA Light Heavyweight (6-1)

  • Keith Eckert

    Cyclist, Ultra Marathon Runner, Extreme Adventure Racer

  • Rob Williams

    Cyclist, Marathon Runner

  • Sam Norman

    IRONMAN Triathlete

  • Luke Norman

    Marathon Runner

  • Mackenzie Burns

    Marathon Runner

  • Brendan Melanophy

    Marathon Runner

  • Phil Schwarz

    Marathon Runner

  • Joe Colavito

    Marathon Runner

  • Monty Heath

    Arm Wrestling, Cyclist

  • Morgon Latimore

    Triathlete, Cyclist

  • Doreen Wagner

    Cyclist

  • Rhy Waddington

    Cyclist

  • Rob Prodan

    Cyclist

  • Rhonda Vetere

    IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlete, Cyclist

  • Matthew Johnson

    Soccer, IRONMAN Triathlete

Amplify Your Actions

Fundraising

We set each Champion up with their own event fundraising page.

Your page offers a personalized opportunity to raise donations for our mission. Sharing your story or reasons you have partnered with Guardian Revival is powerful for your family, friends, and network.

All our programs are provided free of cost to guardians, so support & donations make it all possible.

About Guardian Revival

Guardian Revival is a New York State 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization chartered to revive & preserve the mental health & well-being of veterans & first responders — our guardians — at no cost to them.

Through both in-person and online offerings, our programs have directly impacted guardians in states across the country.

Our programs offer a complimentary approach to healthcare, so that our guardians can pursue an empowered, integrative approach to improving their lives.

  • Decreased sense of loneliness

  • Increased sense of purpose

  • Growth in social network

  • Increased sense of belonging

  • Improved physical health

Together, these yield improved overall well-being.

Guardian Revival Programs

  • Another Summit

    Outdoor adventures — walking, hiking, backpacking, and paddling

    JOIN AN ADVENTURE

    Learn More

  • Boots & Paws

    Providing dogs for the therapeutic benefits of animal companionship

    APPLY FOR A DOG

    Learn More

  • Encore

    Opportunities to learn, write, play, record, and share music

    PLAY MUSIC WITH US

    Learn More

  • G-Connect

    Virtual & in-person experiences to connect with guardians & the community

    LEARN & ENGAGE

    Learn More