8th Annual Aimee Willard Memorial 5K Fun Run Continues Success

Fairfax, VA (June 21, 2006) - On Thursday, April 27, 2006, the Patriot Club in conjunction with Sexual Assault Services and George Mason University Police held the eighth annual Aimee Willard 5K Fun Run/Walk. For the first time, the race was combined with the Victims' Rights 5K Run and Walk to further promote the theme of Victims' Rights Week as well as increase awareness and education as part of a campus-wide effort to end sexual assault. The event furthered its history of success as Mason student-athletes raised money for the Aimee Willard Endowment Scholarship Fund bringing the endowment to a total of approximately $115,000.

The event kicked off in front of Mason Pond at 11 am with an introduction from Detective Bannon of the University Police followed by a few kind words from Dr. Alan Merten who arrived with his wife, Sally, 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 student-athletes who worked to raise money for the Willard Endowment Scholarship Fund and participated in the race wore a special t-shirt to honor and commemorate Aimee's life as a fellow Mason student-athlete.

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) 993-3215. All funds raised will go directly to the Aimee Willard Endowment Scholarship Fund honoring the memory of the former Patriot student-athlete.

A special thanks to all our supporters!