Run with Grace

Running was an important part of Grace Lovegrove’s life, so when her friends, family, coaches, and teammates started thinking about a way to remember her and to raise money for her Patrick Henry scholarship and to support the track team she loved, a 5K and fun run seemed natural. The first one was held May 9, 2006, on the Patrick Henry home course, thanks to the hard work of Coach Chad Cox, members of the cross country and track teams, some very dedicated parents of those runners, and the PH Athletic Boosters. Grace’ spirit is alive on those trails.

“Run With Grace” was coined by a Christopher Newport University teammate and good friend when the team and coach were trying to think of what to put on bracelets they were buying to memorialize Grace and to raise money for her CNU scholarship. Purple Run With Grace bracelets will be available for purchase at this year’s race, with proceeds going to the Patrick Henry scholarship.

The runner girl on the homepage is friend and CNU teammate Jason Berry’s handiwork. It depicts Grace with a Cheerwine soda in one hand and a Hardee’s Thickburger in the other. Grace loved Cheerwine, and all of her friends marveled at how much this 107-pound girl could put away, especially if you were offering seafood, gumbo, or Thickburgers. The other running graphic was created using a picture of Grace from the waist up. That ponytail was always flying when she ran.

Sudden cardiac arrest in young people and organ donation.
Every year in the U.S., thousands of young people, many of them seemingly healthy athletes, die from sudden cardiac arrest. Grace either had no warning signs (dizziness, extreme fatigue, fainting) or any warnings were just before she collapsed. Some of these deaths can be prevented by heart screenings, learning CPR, and making automatic external defibrillators available in public places.

For more information, see:
www.parentheartwatch.org
www.suddencardiacarrest.org

Grace donated organs to four people, something that provides comfort every day. Please consider doing the same. For more information:
www.lifenet.org