Staff writer
A Fort Cherry High School senior is organizing a charity race to raise money to help beautify Hickory while also remembering a fallen classmate.
The 5k-10k walk and run will take place near Hickory beginning at the Mt. Pleasant Township municipal building. The route will be along McCarrell Road with the turnaround point at Gulla Lane.
The event, organized by 17-year-old Amanda McQuillan, will begin at 9 a.m. Sept. 29. Admission for the event is $15 for anyone to walk, $15 for students to run and $20 for adults to run.
All money raised from the charity event will be divided in half and diverted to two causes, McQuillan said.
Part of the proceeds will help pay for the planned sculpture of a farmer holding a calf with a milk can, which will highlight Hickory's Main Street revitalization project. McQuillan expects the remaining portion of the money will buy a park bench to honor Ryan Bricklemyer, a Fort Cherry High School student who died in April when he was accidentally shot in the chest with a shotgun.
The event is part of McQuillan's senior project.
"When Ryan died, I thought this would be a good charity because I want to help people around me," she said.
Panera Bread and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts are donating food, and water will be available to all participants. Range Resources, Slingers Pizzeria, Hickory Auto and Chuck Orton Photography are sponsoring the event. McQuillan hopes to raise more than $1,000.
"Most people are supportive," McQuillan said. "I just need to get people to walk and run in it. People have said they will."
Those interested in participating may call McQuillan at 724-809-3022.