Mike Reese Memorial 5K will help establish foundation in late lawmaker's memory
Before state Rep. Mike Reese died unexpectedly in January, it wasn’t unusual to see him out running with his friend David Keefer on Sundays near Mt. Pleasant Township’s Mammoth Park.
“It wasn’t really about where we went,” said Keefer, who had been friends with Reese since high school. “We both wanted to try and stay in shape if we could, and it was a good stress reliever.”
In the wake of Reese’s death, Keefer and other friends began talking about ways to “help start the foundation (that Reese’s wife Angela) wants to create in his memory, as well as do something for families,” said Keefer’s wife Dawn.
The result is the Mike Reese Memorial 5K Roast, Run & Family Fun event, set for July 4 at Mammoth Park.
The 5K run will start at 10 a.m. and be followed by an 11:30 a.m. pig roast and an afternoon of raffles, games and more. Registration and packet pick-up for pre-registered runners will begin at 9 a.m.
“We wanted something families could come and do on the Fourth of July, and to create something that will hopefully be held every year,” Dawn Keefer said.
David Keefer said that he and Reese had talked less often after college, but they reconnected recently through sports and their children.
“When my son was 6 and Mike’s was 7, I started coaching with him in Little League,” he said. “We also coached football for a year or so together.”
The goal of the nonprofit foundation that Reese’s wife is forming is to help children participate in local sports.
“It’s all about youth sports, family involvement and making sure kids all have an opportunity to play,” Dawn said. “That’s something Mike was very passionate about.”
Reese was 42 when he died unexpectedly in January of an apparent brain aneurysm. This month, a section of Route 981 in Mt. Pleasant Township was renamed in his memory.
The run will not be officially timed. The cost is $20 for those under 21 and $40 for those 21 and over. Participants registered by June 28 will receive a commemorative race T-shirt.
“We’ll be taking registration at the event, but we’re encouraging pre-registration,” Keefer said.
To register online, go to RunSignUp.com/MikeReeseMemorial5K.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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