HANCEVILLE – It was a brisk spring morning at Wallace State on Saturday as 17 participants ran the 5K course through the campus. The group gathered to have fun, but also to remember a beloved member of the community who was lost too soon. Those participating in the event wore lime green shirts with trendy sunglasses on the front in memory of Grant Brown. One of the organizers and a friend of the family, Holly Pirkle, spoke about what the scholarship fund represents to those that knew Grant.
“Grant graduated from Hanceville and one week later tragically died.” “He had dreams that he was going to travel and go to Europe and go to college out in Colorado. He never got the chance to realize those dreams, and this is our way to remember Grant, and for students from Hanceville to have the opportunity to meet their dreams where Grant didn’t have that opportunity.”
The scholarship fund began last year and has already awarded their first recipient.
They are now raising money for another student to receive a year’s paid tuition to Wallace State Community College. Amy Cornelius, co-organizer for the event, was pleased with their first year and thankful for the help they received.
“We had a lot of help with this event,” Cornelius said. “We couldn’t have done it without them, and we hope to make this an annual event that will grow more and more each year.”
EVENT WINNERS
Overall Winners
Male – JK Davis with a time of 20.59
Female – Jordan Quick with a time of 27.04
Ages 16-19
JK Davis
Ages 20-29
Female – Jordan Quick, Savannah Lewis
Male – Jacob Quick, Nickolas Johnson
Ages 30-39
Female – Dana Lisle, Lauren Bentley
Male – Brent Barnett, Chad Whaley
Ages 40-49
Justina Radcliff
Ages 50+
Female – Teresa Fincher
Male – Eddie Lewis
For more information on donations e-mail acornelius@ccboe.org or apirkle@ccboe.org.
Checks can be made to the Grant Brown Memorial Fund and can also be taken to the account opened at Merchants Bank.
A second fundraiser for this year is coming up on March 24 from 4-7 p.m. at Moody Center at Hanceville Park.
A price of $11 includes a choice of chicken, shrimp or fish, fries, slaw, hush puppies, dessert, and a drink. Proceeds go to the Grant Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund at Wallace State.
