This year's edition of the 5K run was held under ideal conditions this past Saturday.

The event is held each year to honor the memory of Lauren Ramsay, a freshman at Mercy High School who was killed in an accident while snowboarding with friends in 2001. The money raised during the event is used to endow an annual scholarship for a freshman at Mercy.

More than 350 runners took part in the 5K race. In addition, there is also a 1K race held for children under the age of 10.

"We had a little over 400 people registered to either run or walk in the race," Lauren's father, Frank Ramsay, said Monday. "I thought it was a fantastic!"

There were, he remembered, more than 1,000 people who took part the first year the event was held. But he said, that was to be expected, with the memory (and emotion) of Lauren's loss still fresh in everyone's minds.

"This was great," Ramsay said. "There was a lot of family involvement."

"A local 5K race typically attracts 100, maybe 200 people," he observed. "To have 400-plus people actually physically cross the finish like is really great. It's fantastic.

"It really makes us feel very good that people can care," he added. "We couldn't be more pleased."

He paused, then added, "Of course, it's a difficult day. I think my wife (Sharon) called it 'bittersweet,' and it is." The fact that the race is even being held reinforces the sense of loss, he acknowledged. But, Ramsay added, the family balances that sense with the realization "that it's for a good cause."

"I don't think I spoke to anyone who didn't mention (Lauren)," he said, noting that his daughter "was very compassionate and very empathetic towards other people. That's just who she was."

The inspiration for the event came from Dennis Hardacker, a long-time friend. "Dennis and I used to coach together," Frank Ramsay explained. Shortly after Lauren passed away, "we established a scholarship in her name, which was as appropriate because she would have wanted it."

Then, he and Sharon began talking about establishing a fund-raiser to endow the scholarship fund. Frank Ramsay said, "I'm not a runner; I'm a golfer." But fundraising golf tournaments are not uncommon, "and Dennis thought it would be nice to have a 5K run/walk race."

The Ramsays agreed, but they didn't really think too much more about it. Then the race was held, and that first year, the event drew 1,000 people -- "and we were astounded."

"Everyone has been very supportive; it has almost become a local institution. It's not a question if we're going to have it anymore, it's what can I do to help?'"

"This could not be this kind of a success without all the volunteers, and especially without Dennis," Ramsay said. "I have friends I haven't seen since we graduated from high school 28 years ago," who come to volunteer or otherwise help out.

"The scholarship continues Lauren's name, and keeps her in people's memories," Frank Ramsay said. "She was only at Mercy for four months, but she absolutely loved it. She was in Sister Mary McCarthy's class, and Lauren loved, her and loved the values she stood for."

There was an especially poignant moment at the conclusion of the race; Frank Ramsay had mounted the back of a truck to address the throng who participated. Each year, T-shirts are given out to runners who take part in the race.

Colleen Zimmerman, a friend of the family, presented the Ramsays with a quilt she had made that includes the images of the T-shirts from the first four years of the race.

There was one other incident that served to underscore the connections the event has fostered -- and revived.

The overall winners in the 5K race were Kevin Kelleher of Rocky Hill (with a time of 16.59 minutes) in the men's division, and Sandra Dalles of Middlefield at 20.58 minutes in the women's' division.

As Kelleher was leaving the race, he stopped Frank Ramsay, and introduced himself, adding, "You probably don't remember me."

No, Ramsay said searching his memory, "I'm afraid I don't."

"My mother and your wife were friends," Kelleher said. When he mentioned Carol Kelleher's name, Ramsay did remember her.

"We were best friends, and he and Lauren were in nursery school together; we used to carpool," Sharon said.

"The last time I saw Kevin, he was what, five, six?" Frank said. Grown now, Kevin is a sophomore at Keene State College in New Hampshire, where he is on the track team.

But remembering the time he spent with Lauren so many years ago, "Kevin said he felt he just be he had to be here," Frank Ramsay said, adding how moved he was that Kevin and so many others took the time to give of their time to make the event a success.

To contact Jeff Mill, call (860) 347-3331 ext. 221 or e-mail