It's hard to believe that it has almost been two years since I woke to news that Bryan and Kathryn Harvey, along with their two young daughters Stella and Ruby, has been killed in their Richmond home. Out of that loss, and all of the grief that followed, there have been so many new connections and so much positive emotional investment emerge from the Richmod community.
One of the most inspirational examples of that has been Ruby's Run, an event that is more about community and children than it is about the fundraising aspect. Nikole and I went to the first Ruby's Run last November, and were struck mostly by the energy -- hundreds of people gathered to celebrate life, champion community, and remember a family that exemplified creativity for many in Richmond.
I got an email from Sunny Matheson, the race organizer and friend of the Harveys, that describes Ruby's Run prefectly:
Unlike other "runs" in the metro area, it is not a competition, as you saw yourself last Nov. It is an event for all kids - an afternoon of activity, fun, silliness and kids being kids. Some of the children have engaged in the pledge-collecting, fundraising aspect, and that's terrific. Community service can't begin too young, and understand that working together in a community can accomplish a lot is an important lesson for a child to learn. But we don't care if a particular child doesn't raise a dime - if they come out, have fun, and help us all remember and honor a sweet little life, then we have indeed reached our goal.
It is the fervent hope of those of us who put together this event, that the rising generation of Richmond kids associate Ruby's name not with the last two hours of her life, but with how she lived, and how much she was loved every day of her life.
The second annual Ruby's Run children's race will be held on Sunday, November 18, on the Carillon grounds by Dogwood Dell. The race is open to all children ages 4 to 14, and pledges and donations will go to a scholarship fund created in Ruby's memory at her preschool, the Second Presbyterian Child Care Center.
More than 150 children participated in last year's race, which raised $6000 and sponsored two children for six months at the daycare. Races start at 2:00 pm and details -- on the race and accompanying
events -- can be found at the Ruby Harvey Memorial Children's Run
website. If you are interested in volunteering, click here.
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