The first SJS Awareness 5 K Walk/Run was held on August 13, 2005. With months of careful planning what could go wrong?

The day before the walk was a sunny, beautiful, Colorado day. Last minute errands were run including picking up water from Eldorado Water Company, renting a helium tank and purchasing balloons. We filled runner’s bags with SJS fact sheets, homemade awareness ribbons made by survivors, SJS water bottles and snacks. We even worked until 1:00AM hanging banners around the park leaving 5 minutes of sleep before returning at 6:00am to set up the registration booth.

At 3:00am we awoke to a cold front! This can’t be happening! At 5:00am it was pouring. We loaded up our cars and trucks and headed off for the park. We had people flying and driving in from around the country. We couldn’t let them down.

Under rainy skies we headed for the park. We looked at each other thinking no one will come. Thank goodness we were wrong. Within 5 minutes of arriving at the park, volunteers from Federal Express started driving up. We struggled in the wind to set up canopies. About 7:30 SJS walkers started showing up. We made a make shift registration booth right out of the back of June Eggleston’s mini van handing out t-shirts and bags.

Suddenly miracle happened! The rain stopped. The sky was gray and overcast but not a drop of rain came down the rest of the day. Over 100 people came and walked. Many wore cards and walked in honor of SJS victims that could not be with us or walked in memory of those that lost their battle with SJS. The day ended with Bronco cheerleaders selecting winners of door prizes.

Survivors came from around the country to participate in the walk. All the way from Florida Stacey Pevzner and from New York were Wendy Rosow and her son Christopher Simpson. We were also joined by people from Oregon, and the western slope of Colorado. We are thankful for all of our participants.

Special thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this event such a success. To all the employees at Federal Express in Denver, Tim Bowden, June, Jeanne, & William Eggleston, Leslie & Anne Farrell, Elizabeth, Carolina & Catherine Finch, Trina Hoag, Amit Khatri, Julie Lankford, Dan & Julie McCawley, Penn Street & Jeanette Schnitzer.

Thank you to our sponsors: Advocare Energy Drink, Burg Simpson Attorneys at Law, City of Westminster , Dr. Janis Cotter of Parkway Sclerals, Einstein Bros Bagels, Eldorado Springs Water Company, Embroidery by Design, Robert Landsperg Board of Director SJS Foundation, Moses Street Photography, Muttleys Maid, Team Davis/United Property Brokers, Wylaco Supply Company of Denver, & American Medical Response Team

We would also like to thank the following companies for their donation of door prizes: Black Eyed Pea, Carrabba’s, Cheesecake and Such, Chillis, Honey Baked Ham Store, Moses Street Photography, Olive Garden, On the Border, and The Wave Car Care Company

It was a wonderful day and we look forward to next August at the 2nd annual SJS Awareness Walk. Hope to see you there!