TAYLOR – A new 5K run and walk will raise will raise funds and support for the Taylor-based Christy’s Legacy of Hope charity for orphaned children around the world.
Christy’s Dance in the Park 5K and Fun Run for Kids are scheduled for the morning of Sept. 14, at Heritage Park, 12111 Pardee Road.
Christy’s Legacy of Hope was founded by Taylor resident Karen DePriest to honor the legacy of her daughter Christy Lynn DePriest Wright, who died from a rare form of cancer in May 2010.
Before she died, Wright spent five weeks teaching English to orphaned children in China. The young woman fell in love with her students and hoped one day to return to China and care for the orphaned children. The charity continues Wright’s vision, passion and commitment to orphans throughout the world.
The 5K and fun run are the latest events to raise money for the charity. The fun run will start at 8 a.m. and the 5K at 8:30 a.m. in front of Pavilion A in Heritage Park.
The registration fee for the 5K is $25 by Sept. 1 and $30 from Sept. 2 through race day. Competitors can register online at www.christyslegacyofhope.com or www.active.com. The fun run is free.
Packet pickup is available from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 11, at the sponsoring Texas Roadhouse restaurant, 14660 Pardee Road, or starting at 7:30 a.m. race day at the park.
The race will take place on a scenic course followed by offerings on a post-race goodie table, music and awards ceremony.
Awards will be presented to the first-place overall man and woman and to leaders in groups 14 and younger, 15 to 19, 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, and 70 and older. The award ceremony is scheduled for 9:45 a.m.
“Christy loved children and she loved to have fun,” DePriest said. “Christy’s Dance in the Park is not only an event to raise funds and awareness, but also a way to have fun with a little music to dance to after running a 5K.”
Sponsorships also are available starting at $50. For more information on sponsorships or the 5K, [email protected] or call 313-291-0352.
More About Christy Lynn DePriest Wright
Family and friends describe Wright as an energetic, beautiful, young lady who had many passions in life.
At Truman High School, she was involved in many facets of student life. She was president of her class two years, a cheerleader, prom queen, a member of the homecoming court, high school news reporter and a member of the National Honor Society. She worked for the city of Taylor and played the flute. She was also involved in a variety of activities at Beacon Baptist Church.
Also, Wright loved to work with children and volunteered to do many activities with them. After high school graduation, Wright went on to Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., where she received a master’s degree. It was during her years at Liberty that Wright traveled to China to teach English, attending to the needs of children there.
Her passion for this cause can be traced to an essay she wrote while attending Hoover Middle School in Taylor. She wrote about a baby she had seen in a magazine that had been abandoned by his parents. The essay was published by Kaleidoscope Magazine. Her trip only increased her desire to return to China one day.
Wright married Corey Wright in the summer of 2007 and they both felt compelled to fulfill this dream. They were residing in Virginia and were two years into their marriage when Wright was diagnosed with hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, a rare form of cancer of the outer lining of the blood vessels.
Family and friends formed Christy’s Legacy of Hope in her memory.
For more information on the charity and events that support it, go to www.christyslegacyofhope.com.