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Community Corner

Patch Picks: Lisa Clay Styles Memorial 5-Kilometer Run and 1 Mile Walk

The event will honor the Mt. Lebanon mom, who was killed while jogging with her two children—who were unharmed in their stroller.

This week's Patch Pick is a little different than others in the past. I am highlighting an event that I had the great honor of helping organize.

Last June 28, Lisa Clay Styles strapped two of her children into their jogging stroller and went out for a run as she trained for the Chicago Marathon. As she ran down Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon, a driver reportedly proceeded through a stop sign without stopping and hit Lisa.

In a split-second decision, Lisa was able to push the stroller out of the way of the SUV and the children were left without a scratch. Lisa was not as fortunate. She died the following day.

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I remember hearing about the accident and praying. I remember standing in my parent's kitchen and crying when I heard she had died. I did not know Lisa, but there was something about her story that really spoke to my heart.

A mutual friend put me in touch with Lisa's husband, Brett, and the idea began for a race to celebrate Lisa's life and spirit. Bob Shooer, the owner of Fleet Feet Pittsburgh, also reached out to Brett about a race, and so the three of us met and together we worked out one detail after another.

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Slowly our race committee grew to include Lisa's friend Melanie McCluskey, and members of Fleet Feet's staff. As our committee grew, so did the scope of the event. We started getting emails from companies that wanted to sponsor the event. Raffle prizes came pouring in. It was obvious that I was not the only one touched by Lisa's story; it seems the entire community feels compelled to honor Lisa.

It is thanks to the wonderful support of the community that Saturday morning nearly 500 runners and walkers will be lined up at the starting line in South Park for the Lisa Clay Styles Memorial 5-Kilometer Run and 1 Mile Walk. The run and the walk are both stroller friendly.

After the race participants and their families are invited to Stevens Grove where entertainment will be provided by DJ Andy Booth, balloon animals by Choo Choo Charlie the Clown, children's activities by Snapology and a craft table supplied by the Mushroom Learning Center.

There are also approximately 50 amazing raffle prizes from business and individuals from throughout the region.

Registration and event information is available by visiting the official website. The race kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday and registration will be open the day of the event.

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