Marauders’ March: The 1,000 Mile Challenge

Marauders’ March
The 1,000 Mile Challenge | March 1-31, 2025

Teams of two to ten members attempt to log 1,000 human-powered miles to honor Merrills' Marauders and to benefit the Sua Sponte Foundation (501c3) Nonprofit Organization

In slightly more than five months of combat, Merrill’s Marauders naviagated nearly 1,000 miles through some of the harshest jungle and mountainous terrain in the world and engaged in combat against the 18th Japanese Army (which had conquered Singapore and Malaya). The Japanese Army vastly outnumbered the Marauders in five major and thirty separate firefights while also battling hunger, fatigue, and disease. Despite all that, the Marauders' were victorious and completed their mission. Few better examples of collective grit, perseverance, and determination exist.

"Always moving to the rear of the main forces of the Japanese, the Marauders completely disrupted the enemy supply and communication lines, and climaxed their behind the lines operations with the capture of Myitkyina Airfield, the only all-weather airfield in Northern Burma.

No other American force except the First Marine Division, which took and held Guadalcanal for four months, has had as much uninterrupted jungle fighting service as Merrill's Marauders. But no other American force anywhere had marched as far, fought as continuously or had to display such endurance, as the swift-moving, hard-hitting foot soldiers, of Merrill's Marauders."--Bob Passanisi, Merrill's Marauder

The inheritors of this tradition are the members of the 75th Ranger Regiment, and it is enshrined forever in the final stanza of their creed:

“Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though I be the lone survivor.”

In honor of the accomplishments of Merrill’s Marauders, and to support their successors at 1st Ranger Battalion, we encourage and challenge you and a chosen team to collectively log 1,000 human-powered miles in the month of March. Walk, run, cycle, row, elliptical, swim...choose whatever means you can to cover distance using only your body power. Additionally, we encourage you and your team to raise money for the Sua Sponte Foundation. The Sua Sponte Foundation is a 501c3, Non-Profit Organization led by an all volunteer board whose mission is to maintain the pristine 1st Ranger Battalion Memorial and provide rapid financial or logistical support to 1-75 Rangers and their families in times of crisis and beyond. All donations of course are tax-deductible and the foundation proudly can say over 90% of every dollar donated is devoted to its mission.

Special recognition will be given to the teams and individuals who log the most miles and raise money for the Foundation. Because teams may be of any size, two members or greater, additional recognition will be given to the team with the highest average mileage logged per member

Special gratitude and public acknowledgement goes out to the patriotic company sponsors where all but one are Veteran owned businesses. So, please check them out over on the left column of this page and please support them.