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Running For Rachael 5K

Running For Rachael 5K
Saturday May 4, 2019
Brusly, LA 70719 

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Location:
250 Elaine St.
Brusly, LA US 70719

 

Race Events:

  • Running For Rachael 5K​

    • ​$30 - Registration for this price closes on December 31, 2018 at 11:59pm CST and re-opens on January 1, 2019 at 12:00am CST

    • Start time is 8:00AM CDT

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  • Running For Rachael Kids' 1 Mile Fun Run​

    • $20 - Registration for this price closes on December 31, 2018 at 11:59pm CST and re-opens on January 1, 2019 at 12:00am CST

    • Start time is 7:30AM CDT

  • Running For Rachael 5K And Fun Run Volunteer

    • details to follow​


Description:
What better way to usher in summer than stretching your legs and running around parts of beautiful Back Brusly! All while raising funds for those battling cancer, and in memory of Rachael Willis a Brusly resident who lost the battle herself. This 5K & Kids 1 Mile Fun Run is the perfect event for individuals, families, companies, and teams alike to come together and experience what West Baton Rouge has to offer! â€‹

michael's Ultra marathon run

On the evening of Friday, November 30, 2018, Michael Willis began running 100 miles in remembrance of his sister Rachael. Along the way, he supported a fundraising effort for Mary Bird Perkins & Cancer Services to help local patients have access to the treatment they so desperately need. Thank you for all who joined us for 24 hours of giving back to those who need it most.

An update from Michael Willis after his Ultra Marathon, 
 

"What a Saturday. For those who haven't heard, I didn't hit the hundred mile mark. And while this may reflect that we didn't hit the ultimate goal, I've never been so humbled, and seen an outpouring of love, from so many good people. From tears to smiles, laughs to pain, every moment of yesterday kept my heart warm knowing the support my family had. Tomorrow I plan to express that gratitude. For the moment, understand every text, post, call, run and everything you may have done over the last two years have not gone unnoticed.

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I love you, my family loves you, and we can't express our gratitude enough. More than ever, Running For Rachael is just getting started, we are here to help you, and we are excited for what the future holds.

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To call yesterday a failure because of my run would be disservice to so many who have done so much. Hold on 2019, the shoes are getting laced up again, and RUNNING FOR RACHAEL IS COMING FOR YOU!

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Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity!"

the 100-mile
after party

We thank everyone for the support along the way. It was a long journey, but we are just getting started! Below is a message from Michael a few days after the race.

"Well, after having 48 hours to chew on this weekend, my heart truly is overflowed with gratitude.

For starters, I truly owe so much of this success to the man behind the scenes Johnathan Le Jeune. A man who started as stranger I trusted to be my coach, became much more than that. Opening me up to possibilities and potential I didn't even know I had, and shaping me in ways I never expected.

Michael Alello who, well, started this whole journey and pulled me from the toughest places in my life.

The Emily Drive crew. Growing up in Brusly, surrounded by the families we did, is one of the greatest blessings we've ever received. I know, without a doubt, my family wouldn't have made it through Rachael Willis illness without their unconditional support. And this weekend, they amazed me once again.

Mr. Scot Rhodes and the whole Brusly Community did what small town Louisiana does best. An outpouring of love from friends old and new, and strangers all along the way, made the smiles much more plentiful than the grimaces.

Equally important, I couldn't have done it without Lane Rispone and his "assistants" Kandis Lakin, Maggie Brill, and Samantha Burton who kept track of me and made sure I had everything I needed while tackling this endeavor.

To Haleigh Pope, the guru behind our logo and all things digital, working in unison with Megan St.Germain to make sure it got posted. Between them and our whole board, they are the reason Running For Rachael is even possible, and thriving!

A HUGE SHOUTOUT TO Varsity Sports and Ms. Jenni Peters for the shirts and singlets!

Finally, with out the support of Earl Willis and Cristal Willis who knows where I'd be. With parents like these two, aiming high comes naturally.

And of course, Megan Voda. Thank you for putting up with all the weekend dates you had to parlay, sacrifices you had to make, and riding your bike for hours in the middle of the night just so I didn't have to be alone. It took patiences to deal with me before I decided to become an ultra runner, how you do it now, is beside me.

To everyone else who I may have missed, who called, texted, and posted, I promise you are not forgotten. More so than I even knew possible, a whole new light has been shed on how many good people are out there. Thank you for your donations, the time you spent running with me, and knowing the impact Running For Rachael is creating.

We've already got big things in store for 2019, and want nothing more than you to be a part of it! One behalf of the whole Willis family, THANK YOU!

Rachael Willis and I couldn't be more humbled, and grateful to call you friends.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, it is that we are powerful beyond measure....."

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