Run/Walk: Run/walk to honor, raise awareness
Source: Rapid City Journal
The third annual Kevin Morsching Memorial 5K run/walk will take place today in remembrance of Morsching, above, who passed away in August 2007 as a result of a skateboarding accident, and also to raise awareness for organ donation. (Photo courtesy of South Dakota State)
Kevin Morsching was both an extreme competitor and a friend to many, and this weekend those close to him will get a chance to honor his memory in a way that would make him proud.
The third annual Kevin Morsching Memorial 5K run/walk will take place today in remembrance of Morsching, who passed away in August 2007 as a result of a skateboarding accident, and also to raise awareness for organ donation.
Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Post 22, with the race set for 8 a.m. The decision to have the race start there, where Morsching played for the Hardhats, means a lot to his family and his parents, Kim and Kevin.
“It’s really important to have it at Post 22 for our family personally,” Kim said. “Kevin’s love was baseball, and he was really proud to play for the team.”
The choice of a run/walk came about a few years ago due to Kevin’s sheer love of anything athletic and the many relationships that were forged during his life.
“For me and my husband it kind of touches all the bases,” Kim said. “He was a dyed-in-the-wool competitor. He ran in the Turkey Trot every year. We love it because we get people like the competitors, and then we love it because we get to be with all his friends. He was a great friend of a variety of age groups.”
Nancy Halter is one of those people that cherished the opportunity to get to know Kevin. She was his babysitter when he was younger, and remained friends up until his passing. Halter will walk the race with her husband, son, daughter and other close acquaintances.
“Our kids went to the same school with Kevin, and he was just a go-getter and a superb athlete,” Halter said. “(The memorial) is just really special to us.”
With the date roughly coinciding with his passing three years ago, it also allows a great deal of friends and family to be able to attend, including his brother, Kirby, who will be coming from Minneapolis to attend.
“It allows us to see friends we maybe don’t see during the year,” Kim said. “Kids can make it before they head back to college or heading back to jobs. It’s just a great chance to get together, and it raises money for other people dealing with loss.”
Besides the charity money generated for a website helping other families dealing with death, a new addition was made to the memorial. Kevin was an organ donor, and this year people from Rapid City Regional Hospital will be there to increase understanding about organ donation.
A table will be set up with facts about the donation process and a chance to register as an organ donor as a part of a federally-funded grant to raise the public’s knowledge and increase donations.
“There’s a lot of questions in the community about organ donation, and we hope to provide information as well as to honor Kevin,” Lori Ames, administrative director of patient services at the hospital, said.
The fee is $10, and the first 150 participants to register will be given a T-shirt with Kevin’s picture and a Donate Life bracelet.
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