Esko Community Runs To Honor Young Athlete Who Died Tragically

Northland News


Esko, MN (Northland's NewsCenter) --- Members of the Esko community came together to recognized a young track athlete who died more than a decade ago.

Kristin Burkholder was killed in an auto–pedestrian accident at the age of 12.

This is 16th annual Kristin Burkholder 5–K race.

In 1997, at the age of 12, Kristin Burkholder was struck and killed while training for track and field along Canosia Road near her school.

The Kristin Burkholder 5K helps to raise money for a scholarship given to two students graduating from Esko High School each year.

"Every year we have a new batch of people through here that we—I don't even know them. So it's great that they come. The little kids I've them grow up all the way—so it's great. It's a good event," Kevin Burkholder, Kristin's father, said.

Many people agree that the best part of the day is bringing Kristin's memory to the surface.

Because Kristin was an organ donor, a race sponsor educated participants on what they can do to help save others.

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{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}