MURPH Festival — Honoring Service Through Strength
May 16, 2026
Why This Event Exists
Damian Garcia, a U.S. Army Infantryman and founder of the Esprit De Corps Foundation, began this event as a personal tradition with his closest friends. Each year, they completed the Murph workout to honor those who served and to stay connected through shared struggle and purpose.
Over time, that tradition grew into something greater. It became a living symbol of unity, endurance, and the bond between service members, families, and their communities.
The Murph Festival was created to bring that same energy to life. It is not just about completing a workout. It is about honoring sacrifice, strengthening connection, and carrying the spirit of service forward together.
The Murph is a workout named after Navy Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, a Medal of Honor recipient who gave his life in Afghanistan in 2005. The workout includes a one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats, and another one-mile run, often done wearing a 20-pound vest or body armor for those who choose the challenge.
At our festival, participants can choose between a Half Murph or a Full Murph. We will start the morning with the Half Murph heats, followed by the Full Murph competitions later in the day. We are also working toward hosting a University vs. University Murph Challenge, where student veterans and ROTC from different campuses will compete for awards and recognition.
Competitors will receive event shirts, and awards will be given to top performers. Crowds will gather along UIC’s beautiful fields to cheer on participants as they push through every rep and every run, creating an atmosphere filled with energy, pride, and purpose.
What is the Murph?
A Festival of Strength and Community
For those not competing, the Murph Festival is a full-day celebration open to everyone. The event will feature:
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A 50-foot inflatable obstacle course
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Fun activities and challenges
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Food trucks, vendors, and local business booths
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Live music, entertainment, and giveaways
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Raffle baskets and prize drawings throughout the day
As the sun sets, the festival will conclude with a Memorial Walk, where families, friends, and participants will carry glow sticks together in honor of those who have served and those we have lost. At the end of the walk, everyone who wishes to participate will sign a massive white banner with the Esprit logo and write the names of those they wish to remember. This banner will be displayed in our first facility as a permanent dedication to the people and communities who made this mission possible.
Every registration, sponsorship, and donation directly supports the Esprit De Corps Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All proceeds help fund the creation of Chicago’s first Esprit Recreation and Resource Center and support the programs that will serve veterans, student veterans, and their families across the city.
Leading up to the event, individuals and teams will have the chance to create their own online fundraising pages to help raise money for the cause. Whether you compete, walk, volunteer, or donate, you are helping build a space where connection, leadership, and service continue to thrive long after the event ends.
Building More Than Strength
Stand With Us
We invite local businesses, veteran-owned companies, and community leaders to take part in this mission. By sponsoring or tabling at the Murph Festival, you help fund programs that directly impact veterans, students, and families.
All sponsors receive a form of recognition on event banners, social media, and the Esprit De Corps Foundation website. Larger sponsors receive additional visibility, speaking opportunities, and the option to include promotional materials in participant gift bags.
The Murph Festival is hosted in partnership with the University of Illinois-Chicago Student Veterans Affairs Office and is set to grow each year as we bring together more universities, community organizations, and supporters from across the region. Together, we are building more than an event. We are building a movement that honors service, inspires unity, and strengthens the foundation for the Esprit Recreation and Resource Center.
Register Today!
Hosted by: Esprit De Corps Foundation in partnership with UIC Student Veterans Affairs
Join the Mission
The Murph Festival is more than a one-day event. It is the start of a movement that will grow every year as we work to fund the Esprit Recreation and Resource Center and expand our impact across Chicago and beyond.
Whether you compete, walk, volunteer, or donate, you are part of something greater — a community coming together to restore purpose, belonging, and strength among veterans, students, and families.
Registration, sponsorships, and vendor opportunities are now open. Every dollar raised helps us move closer to building a space where veterans and civilians can connect, grow, and lead together.
Be part of the story. Stand with us. Help build the future of veteran support in Chicago.
