The team from the Mason Athletic Department, Aimee's Army, run and walk in memory of Aimee Willard, a former Mason student-athlete.

On Tuesday, April 15, 2008, the Patriot Club and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics held the tenth annual Aimee Willard Memorial 5K Fun Run/Walk in collaboration with the 12th Annual Victims' Rights 5k Run/Walk. Mason Athletics and the Patriot Club partnered with GMU Police, ROTC and Sexual Assault Services to combine both races into one large event to further promote Victims' Rights Week as well as increase awareness and education as part of a campus-wide effort to prevent sexual assault. All funds raised by the Mason Athletics Department went to the Aimee Willard Endowment Scholarship Fund honoring the memory of the former Patriot student-athlete.

The event kicked off in front of Mason Pond at 11:00 am with an introduction from Detective Patty Millan of the University Police followed by a few kind words from University President Dr. Alan Merten who arrived to show support and emphasize the importance of the event and, in particular, Victims' Rights Week. Additionally, a former teammate and friend of Aimee Willard, Billie Sims, spoke on Aimee's behalf to the crowd of participants, sponsors and supports that came out for the event prior to the start of the race. The race began and finished in front of the Center for the Arts on the campus and an awards ceremony and picnic sponsored by Subway for all participants followed the conclusion of the race. All Aimee Willard Memorial 5k participants - walkers, runners, and volunteers - wore a special gold t-shirt to honor and commemorate Aimee's life as a former Mason student-athlete.

Congratulations to the 2008 Award Winners!

1st Place Run - Male: Ted Poulos (18:44.3)
1st Place Run - Female: Robyn Hoeschen (21:13.9)

2nd Place Run - Male: Jon Parker (19:31.2)
2nd Place Run - Female: Colleen Killiany (21:23.6)

1st Place Student Walk: Jeanine Finch
1st Place Student Run: Mark Pelerin (17:10.9)

1st Place Walk - Male: Dan Taggart
1st Place Walk - Female: Tracy Claar

2nd Place Walk - Male: Greg Kennedy
2nd Place Walk - Female: Carol Swigart

Largest Team: Aimee's Army (Mason Athletics) - 66 members
Largest Donation: ROTC - $1,000

CLICK HERE for the complete race results.

Willard was a two-sport athlete at Mason, excelling in both soccer and lacrosse. She was a member of Mason's 1993 women's soccer team that earned the title of NCAA Division I Runner-up. Additionally, she was chosen for the All-Colonial Athletic Association and regional All-American selection in 1996 for her stellar lacrosse performance. Although she lost her life to a brutal act of violence in June 1996 near Philadelphia, her legacy continues to live on.

If you would like to join the Mason community and help raise money for non-violence education in support of victims' rights, please contact the Mason Patriot Club at (703)993-4147.

A special thanks to all our supporters!

EVENT PHOTO GALLERY 

9th Annual Aimee Willard Memorial 5K Fun Run
8th Annual Aimee Willard Memorial 5K Fun Run
7th Annual Aimee Willard Memorial 5K Fun Run