ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — This year, Vaseline is sponsoring the 43^rd Marine Corps Marathon in an effort to support those who serve their community and show that it’s amazing what healed skin can do. Dating back to the First World War, Vaseline Jelly brought relief to military personnel in the trenches by treating cuts and bruises, while medical officers reported carrying tubes of Vaseline Jelly to treat minor cuts or burns on their patients. For the past 140 years, Vaseline continues to be the go-to jelly and original skin protectant that has been safely helping skin heal for medics to runners and everyone in between.

“We are so excited to be sponsoring the Marine Corps Marathon this year,” says Dawn Hedgepeth, vice president of deodorants, men’s grooming, and hand and body lotion at Unilever USA. “Vaseline has a rich heritage providing skin relief to military service men and women, and we’re honored to continue protecting them, their family and friends by providing Vaseline supplies at each medical tent throughout the marathon course. I am in awe of the amazing work of all the runners, including Team Vaseline, and can’t wait to cheer them on during race day.”

To shine light on some of the amazing stories of runners participating in The People’s Marathon,Vaseline has partnered with the Marine Corps Marathon to select a team of four medical professionals and veterans set to run 26.2 miles through the nation’s capital. Here are their incredible stories:

• Nathan Castleman is a United States Marine Corps Veteran, and now, for the past seven years, works as a Registered Nurse in Bradenton, FL. Throughout his nursing career, Castleman has helped treat a number of patients with skin conditions, including burn victims, which has helped him to always keep in mind the importance of taking good care of your skin and never taking it for granted. From a spinal injury during deployment to being diagnosed with Diabetes in 2017, Castleman faced a few setbacks that inspired him to get back into running last Summer after taking years off. Since then he has participated in two half marathons and two 10k races, with the 2018 Marine Corps Marathon being his first ever marathon.
• Meghan Gorny served as a Navy Hospital Corpsman from 1998 – 2009, and is now a Licensed Practical Nurse in Jacksonville, FL. Gorny began running in 2013 to keep busy while her husband, who has served for the US Navy for 28 years, was deployed. Since then Gorny has become a seasoned runner having participated in 32 half marathons, eight marathons, one ultramarathon and three triathlons – all while balancing her household in a single-parenting role while her husband is away. When it comes to her running must-haves, she always turns to using Vaseline® on her feet to prevent ever having blisters.
• Laura Bergmann is a MyoFascial Therapist and owner/practitioner of Fascia Lines, LLC based in Winchester, VA. At a young age she was told that she would never be able to run again and suffered from a back injury in college, which after overcoming both, motivated her career and obtaining her Master’s Degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion. While helping her clients overcome similar struggles and motiving them to run again, Bergmann uses Vaseline® products in her day-to-day work for clients’ issue treatment and for her own training regimen. As an active volunteer for Girls on the Run and Shenandoah Valley Runners, a former all-American team USA Triathlete and three-time Boston Marathon runner, Bergmann is excited to challenge herself and participate in the Marine Corps Marathon for the third time.
• David Lagow is a loving husband and father of three-and-a-half-year-old twins based in Centreville, VA. He is a Certified Athletic Trainer serving as the Head Athletic Trainer for South County High School in Fairfax County, VA. He has worked in the field for over 17 years with experience ranging from high school to college sports, and even working with professional and elite world class athletes. He is a recreational runner who has participated in 5k and 10k races. However, Lagow has always felt a sense of pride coming from a Navy family and having previously participated in the Marine Corps Marathon. In 2018, for his second year participating, he will be running in honor of Kirk Urso, his former athlete, who passed away in August 2012.

THE COUNTDOWN TO THE FINISH LINE

On October 28, 2018 follow along on Vaseline®’s social channels to help cheer on the runners as they make their way throughout the course, and stay up to speed on how much Vaseline® Jelly runners use at to help get them to the finish lin