Every “Yard” Has a Mission

Ben Brown Runs Rooster’s Backyard Ultra for Veterans & First Responders

Race Day: November 14, 2026

One mission. One yard at a time. A community that refuses to leave our heroes behind.

On November 14, 2026, Ben Brown will run Rooster’s Backyard Ultra to raise awareness and funds for 9 Week Warrior, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans and first responders find healing, strength, and renewed purpose beyond the uniform.

As a combat veteran, Army Airborne Ranger, and Purple Heart recipient, Ben understands the demands of service and the lasting impact they can have after coming home. For nearly a decade, ultrarunning has helped him build resilience, find purpose, and keep moving forward through pain and uncertainty.

Now, he is putting that determination toward a mission larger than himself.

What Is Rooster’s Backyard Ultra?

A backyard ultra challenges runners to complete a 4.167-mile loop “yard” at the start of every hour. They continue one yard at a time for as long as they can finish within the allotted time.

The format demands patience, adaptability, and mental resilience. With limited time to rest and prepare, runners must keep showing up even when the finish line is uncertain.

That challenge reflects Ben’s mission: honoring the veterans and first responders who have spent their lives showing up for others.

Ben’s Why: Service Doesn’t End When the Uniform Comes Off

Military and first-responder service can leave lasting physical, emotional, and psychological burdens. Transitioning home is often difficult, and finding meaningful support is not always easy.

Ben believes service should continue beyond the uniform. His own experience has shaped his understanding of purpose, perseverance, and the importance of having a mission beyond yourself.

Ben is running for the veteran who feels lost after service, the first responder carrying the weight of what they have witnessed, the families who stand beside them, and every warrior who deserves support, connection, and the opportunity to heal.

Resilience is not about never struggling. It is about having the support, tools, and community to keep going.

How 9 Week Warrior Helps

9 Week Warrior supports veterans and first responders through individualized, holistic wellness and recovery resources. Because healing is personal, its programs address the whole person and each participant’s unique needs.

Support may include:

● Therapeutic massage and bodywork for relaxation, physical recovery, and well-being.

● Homeopathic and individualized wellness resources as part of a personalized approach to care.

● Yoga, movement, and self-care practices that promote body awareness, stress management, and resilience.

● Sound healing and restorative experiences that create space to slow down and reconnect.

● Community, connection, and practical tools that help participants know they are not alone.

During the 2025 Los Angeles fires, 9 Week Warrior also brought self-care support directly to firefighters at fire stations.

These services complement—not replace—appropriate medical and mental health care.

Our 2026 Goal: $50,000

As 9 Week Warrior celebrates its 10th anniversary, we aim to:

Raise $50,000 to help veterans and first responders this year.

Your donation helps make supportive wellness experiences and individualized resources more accessible to those who have dedicated their lives to protecting and serving others.

Whether you give $10, $50, $100, or more, your contribution helps expand access to care and build a culture where asking for help is met with compassion rather than judgment.

Join Ben on the Journey

On November 14, Ben will face each 4.167-mile yard at Rooster’s Backyard Ultra carrying the stories of those who served, protected, and are still finding their way forward.

You do not have to run an ultramarathon to join this mission. You can donate, share the campaign, introduce someone to 9 Week Warrior, or remind a veteran or first responder that they are seen, valued, and not forgotten.

Together, we can turn yards into meaningful support, endurance into purpose, and generosity into healing opportunities.

Ben is running for those who have spent their lives showing up for others.

Now, let’s show up for them.

Donate today. Share the mission. Help us reach heroes .

One mission. One yard at a time. No warrior left behind.

Ben Brown Runs Rooster’s Backyard Ultra for Veterans & First Responders

Strengthening our community through resilience and dedicated service

Team Members