Lace up your running (or walking)
shoes for a great cause on Saturday,
July 9.
The 2022 Thomas Daley Memorial
5K will benefit an exceptional nonprofit
foundation created out of the horrific
event that took place at Oxford High
School last fall. Four students tragically
lost their lives that day, including
16-year-old Tate Myre. Tate was a
standout student athlete with a lifetime
ahead of him. He was known for his
passion to mentor younger kids, primarily
though sports. The Myre family
is dedicated to keeping Tate’s legacy of
leadership alive through the 42 Strong
Foundation. The foundation’s focus on
mentoring will continue the legacy of
athleticism, community spirit, excellence
and leadership that Tate displayed
during his life.
This unique cross-country 5K will
take place at the Daley Acres Farm,
3387 Daley Rd., Attica and is scheduled
to kick off at 4 p.m.
The Daley family knows all too well
the grief surrounding the loss of a young
life. Thomas Daley’s life was cut short
in 2011 at the age of 23 when he was
fatally injured on the family’s Arcadia
Township farm.
The family immediately began working
to ensure that his legacy would live
on in the form of organ donations, blood
drives, a scholarship, and a memorial
fund.
“He had an overwhelming passion
for agriculture and the farm, so we created
the scholarship fund and ran golf
outings and other fundraising events
for eight years,” said Thomas’s older
brother, Mike. “We were able to raise
over $200K over eight years and get the
scholarship to a point where the interest
alone is enough to cover the annual $5K
scholarship.”
Once the scholarship fund reached
the point of perpetuity, the Daley family
set up the Thomas Daley Memorial
Fund, which focuses on brain and
spinal injuries, music, agriculture and
children. They raise money through
various fundraisers in the community
and then choose a nonprofit grant recipient
once a year to receive a grant
of at least $5,000. This year, they have
decided to honor another young life cut
short by pairing up with the 42 Strong
Foundation.
“Our family is excited to partner
with the Myre family to support their
cause and honor their son Tate,” said
Mike. “I find that trying to do good for
our community always helps ease the
pain a little and also remember those
we lost way too soon. We are hoping
to get approximately 200- 300 runners
signed up to participate. We greatly appreciate
any support we can get whether
that is as a participant, a sponsor, or a
volunteer.”
The cost to participate is $42. A Kids’
1-mile run/ walk will start at 3:30 p.m.
with a $22 registration fee. Runners
can also receive dinner for $40 ($20
for kids) and non-runners can join for
just dinner, which will be served from
4 to 11 p.m. for $50. Sponsorships are
available as well ranging from $150
to $1,000.
Live entertainment is also part of
the fun on July 9. For more info or to
register for the race and/or dinner visit
www.daley5K.com.
Learn more about this year’s
benefiting organization by visiting
www.42strongtate.org.