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My Student In Need News!



  • Run For Who You Love is about coping, healing Posted: Friday, September 25, 2015 by KIM

    The second annual “Run for Who You Love” 5K fun run in memory of former Great Falls resident Stacy Frey Neild, which benefits My Student in Need, takes place Saturday, Sept. 26, starting at 10 a.m. in West Bank Park.Run For Who You Love

    Neild was diagnosed with ALS in 2009 and passed away in 2013 at the age of 31. She worked in Australia as a distraction therapist, helping children cope with terminal illnesses. Last year’s run drew more than 75 people and raised $3,000 for a patient with Lyme disease.

    The idea of the “Run for Who You Love,” according to Neild’s mother, Debi Frey, is to bring participants together in the name of friends or family who suffer from illness or disease, whether those loved ones are alive or have passed on. Neild’s longtime friend, Tawnya Gilchrist, spearheaded the event with help from Frey.

    “We organized this to keep her memory alive and keep her spirit of giving going,” Frey said.

    So far in 2015, Frey and Gilchrist have raised more than $8,500 of the run’s $10,000 goal. According to Frey, meeting that goal means helping more than 400 local students.

    “Most of that is donations from people who have been impacted by (illness),” Glichrist said, but there was also a $4,000 lump sum donated anonymously.

    Runners can register the day of the race or pre-register by searching “Run for Who You Love” at www.getfit.com. Preregistration is $25, same-day registration is $30, and registration includes a T-shirt while supplies last. Children 14 and younger can participate for free with a paid parent.

    New this year is a memory wall where runners can place stickers with the reason for their run. Expanded kids’ activities make the day all about family.

    “We selected My Student in Need because of Stacy’s love for children,” said Frey. “She always wanted to have children, and she didn’t get to.”

    “We hope to make it annual and kind of expand on it every year,” Gilchrist said. “People need to voice and need to cope and need a healing atmosphere.”

    Frey agrees.

    “For me, this has been a healing process,” she said.

    THE ESSENTIALS

    What: Run for Who You Love

    When: Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m.

    Where: West Bank Park

    Cost: $25 for pre-registration, $30 the day of the event

    provided by The Great Falls Tribune