ROCHELLE — The eighth annual Tyler “Smitty” Smith 5K Memorial Run and Walk will be held Sept. 13 at Atwood Park in Rochelle. Smith, a Rochelle native and Army National Guard member, died at age 23 in September 2018. The event honors Smith’s memory and love of running while raising money for the Tyler Smith Memorial Foundation, which provides local high school scholarships and support to police, military and charitable organizations.
“With Tyler’s tragedy, we’ve always said that it’s a sad thing that happened to Tyler, but we wanted to keep his memory alive,” said Sandy Halsne, Tyler’s mother. “And by doing that, we’ve always said that we’re bringing hope to others through this tragedy.”
The 5K is open to runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, with the course following the bike path from Atwood Park to a turnaround point and back. Race packet pickup begins at 7:30 a.m., with the race starting at 9 a.m. The deadline to register and receive a race T-shirt is Aug. 31. Registration will remain open through the start of the race, with the fee reduced by $10 after Aug. 31, but shirts will not be available. Participants can register online or at the Rochelle Park District Recreation Center, 802 Jones Road. A post race fundraiser will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rochelle VFW with lunch, raffles and a 50/50 drawing.
