One hundred and one people walked or ran in memory of Angela James on Sunday (Nov. 21).
"It went really well," said Linda McHale, who organized the Fall Classic as a fundraiser for the Angela James Memorial Scholarship fund this year. "Angela's family was so deeply touched by the strong community support."
James, a Squamish resident, died of cancer in April. Education, running and her children and their friends were some of her passions, said McHale, in an article in The Chief on Oct. 29.
McHale decided to take on organizing the event to raise money for a scholarship in James' honour. The scholarship will be offered to graduating high school students this year and in 2008, the same year James' son and daughter graduate from Howe Sound Secondary.
The 5/10 km run (or walk) went off with only marginal hiccups. The timing clock didn't work, so the racers were clocked with stopwatches.
And McHale, along with Kathy Wilkes, had a lot of support organizing the race.
"I don't think Kathy and I had any idea what it took to organize an event like this," McHale said. "I had a total fear of the unknown on race day."
But all the volunteers made it happen.
"Everybody was there who was supposed to be there," Wilkes said.
And the runners and walkers pulled in a hefty amount for the scholarship.
"We estimated it will be over $2,000," McHale said. "It's very unofficial at this point."
Exact numbers were unavailable because private donations were still coming in, and the person in charge of registration was having surgery.
Howe Sound Secondary won the school challenge award for having the most students participate in the run or walk.
"It was really nice to see all the students come out and support their peers," McHale said.
"It's pretty amazing to see 17-year-old boys show up at 8 a.m. to go for a walk," Wilkes added. "They were there no matter what."
Brendan Rosser, a Howe Sound Secondary student in the male 19 and under category, was the overall top male finisher for the race. He ran the 10 km in just in 36:12 minutes. Teresa Hoivik, in the female 20-29 category, was the top female finisher for the 10 km race. She finished in 41:21 minutes.
James was remembered during the race right down to the details. The pamphlets, and T-shirts were baby blue, just like her blue eyes, McHale said.
"That was her favourite colour too," Wilkes said.
