BERKELEY – A local man cites his son as his inspiration to be healthy, and he hopes to share his story to inspire others as well.
Jim Welshman, 64, rides his bike, swims, and jogs to keep in great shape. The start of his fitness journey didn’t come with a starter pistol but a more military one. His son entered the Marines in 2008. “I downloaded the boot camp training app.”
He said he was 250 pounds at the start of his training. By the time family day at the corps came around, he was 190 pounds.
His son had received the Eagle Globe and Anchor pin upon graduating, and he gifted it to his father. It was a proud moment for both of them.
But it’s not just taking care of himself. He does it to take care of others as well.
In 2009, he decided to do the Marine Corps marathon, which was his first long-distance run. Another runner wore a shirt advertising Semper Fi & America’s Fund. This is a charity that will provide immediate financial assistance as well as lifetime support for critically ill, combat wounded, and catastrophically injured service members from all branches of the military.
“A lot of these people fall through the cracks,” he said.
Welshman now takes part in fundraising athletic events to raise money for the fund. He’ll often wear a shirt advertising the fund while he runs, hoping that someone will start their journey of giving just like he did. People will thank him for his service. He has to say that he never served, but he wears it in support of his son. His father had been in the Army. He had tried to enlist, but he had a problem with his knee that kept him out.
Through the fund, he’s got to see first-hand what they do, and he’s met the people they’ve helped. At special events, he hears these peoples’ stories and how the fund was able to support them.
“There’s never a dry eye in the house,” he said.
Recreationally, he belongs to the Ocean Running Club and a subgroup of them that does triathlons.
He competes in these matches despite having a heart condition. During a bike ride in 2020, Welshman blacked out and collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with arrhythmia. He received a pacemaker and soon after, he was back to exercising seven days a week.
How To Help
Semper Fi & America’s Fund has provided $263 million in assistance to veterans, impacting more than 27,500 service members. Independent sources that rank nonprofits on percentage of dollars spent and transparency have given them high ratings.
Visit TheFund.org to learn more or donate.
Welshman also sells American flag crafts at local events and on his Facebook page to benefit the organization.
