The first annual Joana’s Miles 5K Trail Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run took place yesterday morning at Imerman Memorial Park in Saginaw Township, Michigan. I attended the race to do work for Hooray Run, but I left with much more than that.

An excerpt from The Township Times: “All proceeds benefit the Joana D. McKeoun Memorial Scholarship, which is administered by the Saginaw Community Foundation and awarded to a graduating Heritage High School senior each year. It was established in 2013 in honor and memory of Joana McKeoun, who graduated from Heritage High School in 2010 and passed away on October 4, 2013 after a five year battle with brain cancer.”

I was able to talk with Joana’s mother, Tina Walsh, and Joana’s boyfriend, Adam. They were grateful for the enormous turnout and the $3,000+ raised. Joana ran cross country at White Pine and Heritage.

For the second annual race next year, HR will look to do a longer feature. It’s for a great cause, and it’s a family-friendly atmosphere. The previous two photos posted on HR were taken at the race. Photographed here is Adam, the aforementioned boyfriend of Joana.

“A group of nine of us are running the Chicago Marathon in October. Each of us will raise $1,000 or more for the American Brain Tumor Association. … I hope runners leave [this race] inspired and remember that running is a privilege.”