Ben Campbell Memorial 5K

🏃‍♂️ Race Overview

Benjamin Cole Campbell was a go-getter, destined for greatness, and though he’s no longer with us, we pledge to keep his legacy alive forever. The Benjamin Campbell Memorial Fund has been established to keep Ben's legacy alive by helping other students achieve. Ben's journey is a reminder that given the opportunity, with hard work and focus, you can achieve.

📖 Ben's Early Life

• Challenge: Ben’s childhood was anything but easy. His mother, Carla, was diagnosed with Leukemia and fought hard for many years.
• Loss: The disease eventually took its toll on her, and she lost her battle, a week prior to Ben’s 8th grade graduation.
• Family: The family struggled with the devastating loss - now four children without a mom.
• Hope: Ben and his siblings were enrolled at Milton Hershey School, in hopes of future reuniting as a family.

🏈 High School Journey

• Sports: While at Milton Hershey, Ben played football and was an asset to the team.
• Focus: Football was his anchor - he found a way to release his anger and frustration, kept his grades, and stayed focused.
• Homecoming: He enrolled in Newark High School, made friends, was voted junior captain of the football team.
• Love: It was here he met his future fiancé, Shannon.

🎓 Higher Education

• Determination: Ben was determined to continue his education after high school and played football at Wesley College.
• Success: He worked really hard and graduated with honors, believing all the hard work would pay off.
• Ambition: Ben's application to Widener Law School expressed his commitment to help as many families as possible.
• Achievement: He graduated from Widener Law School in May of 2021 with honors!

💼 Career Milestones

• Work Ethic: He worked part time for Baird Mandalas Brockstedt and Federico LLC while studying for the bar exam.
• Perseverance: His determination was evident as he studied like it was a full-time job.
• Success: He passed the Bar and was hired by Baird, Mandalas, Brockstedt, and Federico LLC full time.
• Overcoming: He did it... he overcame his circumstances!

❤️ A Life Cut Short

• Engagement: Ben was engaged to his high school sweetheart, Shannon, and was to be married on October 7, 2023.
• Partnership: They were champions with a pursuit of helping others: Shannon became an RN at Christiana Hospital.
• Tragedy: On July 29 tragedy struck: eight weeks before the wedding, Ben was killed in an accident.
• Loss: No farewell words were spoken. He was gone before we knew it.

🎉 Event Details

• Fundraising: The Ben Campbell Memorial Fund has been established to help others, as Ben would have wanted.
• 5K Course: The 5k will start and end at Ben’s Alma Mater, Newark High School, taking you through the City of Newark.
• Participation: We welcome all walkers and runners of all abilities.
• Post-Race: There will be a post-race after party at Deer Park Tavern starting at 10:30am with amazing raffles.

👥 Teams and Participation

• Team Opportunities: “Teams” are made for Newark High School Alumni, Milton Hershey School Alumni, Wesley Alumni, Delaware Law Alumni, ChristianaCare, Baird, Mandalas, and Brockstedt & Federico LLC.
• Community: Each organization was a major pillar in Ben’s life: participants from these groups are encouraged to join.
• Additional Teams: If you would like to make an additional team, please feel free to do so at sign up.
• More Info: Click HERE for more information on The Ben Campbell Memorial Fund.