SOLON– Although Brett Smith passed away nearly two years ago, his memory is still strong in the hearts of his friends, family, and community.
Sarah Drea and Brady Smith, first cousins of Brett, are organizing an untimed running and walking event in honor of their family member.
The run will be held on April 5 at 10 a.m. in Solon. Participants can pre-register and pay the $25 dollar fee at www.brettsrunsolon.org. Here, participants can also find a map of the route, a countdown to the day of the race, and a short bio about Brett. Pre-registration ends on Wednesday, March 26, but same-day registration will be available from 8:30 until 9:30 a.m. at the check-in area at Lakeview Elementary. Pre-registering guarantees a participant a T-shirt by the day of the race. Participants who have pre-registered will also have the option of picking up their materials the day before the race from 6 until 8 p.m. at 1924 Hwy. 1 NE, Solon. Participants who register the day of the race will still be able to order a T-shirt, but they won't receive it until later.
"We're using the route that the Beef Days Fun Run uses, so anybody who has run that will be familiar with the route. We'll have signs directing the route, and we'll have volunteers along the route directing people where to go," explained Drea.
The proceeds from the race will go to UNIte for Nora, a campaign supporting 2-year-old Nora Sanderson who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at 20 months of age. A link to UNIte for Nora's Facebook page is on the event's website.
Despite raising money for another young person who has been affected by cancer, Drea wanted to make it clear that the event is to primarily help the community remember Brett.
Brett was diagnosed with Acute Myloid Leukemia in January of his senior year. He was treated at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics but was later sent to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Brett passed away there on April 16, 2012.
Although Brett is no longer with us, his friends and family still remember him fondly. Becca Hoy, who graduated from Solon High School in 2010, recounted the good times she had with Brett.
What stood out about Brett to most people was his compassionate demeanor and sense of humor.
Drea also indicated that Brett maintained a positive attitude in his battle against the disease.
Drea said she hoped this event will be the start of an annual tradition that honors Brett.
There are numerous ways for people to get involved in the fight against cancer. Two excellent programs are Team in Training and Relay for Life, recommended by Drea and Hoy respectively.
For questions about the race, sponsoring the event, or extra T-shirt orders, contact Sarah Drea at 319-330-7854 or dbsadrea@hotmail.com.