Ernst Family Fundraiser

On February 19th, 2023, my brother, Michael, died in a military training accident. As a US Navy Seal, he had a very dangerous job, which means that the training was equally as dangerous. Mike knew the risks and did the job anyway, because like anything he ever did, he was 110% committed. He was the best of the best, the guy with the answers, the best hugger, who always made you feel safe. If you were lucky enough to know him then you were lucky enough. To have him as my big brother, I am the luckiest.

While my parents (Mary and Bob), siblings (Greg, Peter, Luke and Maggie) and myself are forever changed, the greatest impact is felt by his wife Megan, daughter Reilly (5) and son Judah (3). The loss of a father and husband is unimaginable. Besides the grief, devastation and overwhelming sadness, there are the financial implications. While uncomfortable to talk about, they are very real and will affect every decision that Meg has to make.

Michael and I shared a love of running and I feel closest to him when running. It is for this reason that I have decided not to defer the Aspen Marathon I had planned for this July 15th and, instead, to run it in his honor. Mike was always down for a challenge and whenever he did anything, he was always all in. So it is in that same spirit that I will run my first marathon this summer, and Mike will be with me every step of the way.

My hope is that the funds raised will afford Meg, Reilly and Judah the same opportunities they would have had if Michael were still alive (sports, education, travel, activities). All of these things were important to him and he would never want his family to miss out on anything

All donations will go directly to Meg, Reilly and Judah as they work to rebuild their lives.