Almost two years after the murder of Laken Riley, the University of Georgia and Athens communities will gather at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21 to honor her memory with a memorial 5K event called “Run for Your Life”.
22-year-old Riley was murdered by Jose Ibarra on Feb. 22, 2024 while jogging on UGA’s campus — a death that devastated the local community and drew national attention. In November 2024, Ibarra was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Two years later, a race honoring Riley’s memory hopes to bring the Athens community together.
Attendees will participate in a moment of silence and reflection before the race begins at 8 a.m. A memorial service open to the public will take place after the race, featuring words from Riley’s family, a sermon from Derek Anglin and a Q&A with U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, author of the Laken Riley Act.
The event was organized by Elizabeth Sun Designs, a faith-based organization that supports outreach and relief work locally and internationally. The majority of funds raised from the race will go to The Laken Hope Foundation, an organization that supports causes such as safety awareness for women, aid and tuition assistance for nursing students and children’s healthcare.
“We want people to know Laken’s life that she lived, not the murder,” Macy Rutledge, founder of Elizabeth Sun Designs, said. “[We] want her to be known for her faith in Jesus and her love for running.”
Rutledge said her mission is to honor Riley’s legacy and faith.
“We partner with organizations that have a similar heart for honoring … a life that also leaves a legacy that’s centered around Christ,” Rutledge said.
Alyssa Fallon, a senior theatre major at UGA, noted the importance of celebrating Riley’s life through a 5K.
“I think [the race encourages] young girls, especially young women, to keep running despite setbacks such as fear,” Fallon said. “I also think it’s good awareness. … a lot of negativity has come out of the incident, but positivity has shown up through encouragement for safety among women and young girls who would like to run.”
Colby Cannizzaro, a senior management information systems major, will be attending the event not just to run, but to keep spirits high and motivate others as they run in honor of Riley.
“I want to be Athens’ local hype guy,” Cannizzaro said. “The goal of the hype guy is to keep everybody in the race, giving everything they can for as long as possible. Because when you’re doing these 5Ks, it’s really tough. … I feel that when you have that person next to you running with you, someone to be kind of on your shoulder, giving you that little bit of motivation, I think that’s really what can carry people in through the finish line.”
The title of the event, “‘Run for Your Life,” named after a sermon given by Pastor Anglin, raised concerns for some UGA students.
“I think it sounds a little bit insensitive,” Fallon said. “But I would consider [Riley’s family’s] opinions above anything else.”
Elliott Woodward, a junior mechanical engineering major, learned about the event from a poster at his gym.
“I think that’s a really weird name,” Woodward said. “I heard that she was a runner, but from what I knew previously, she died running. So I think that would be almost inappropriate to title a run ‘Run for Your Life’ in her honor.”
At first, Cannizzaro was not in full support of the name. However, his interpretation changed as he thought more about it.
“I can understand why ‘Run for Your Life’ could be misconstrued as a bizarre name,” Cannizzaro said. “But at the end of the day, ‘Run for Your Life’ is more about running to be all you can be, and running for the values that Laken Riley believed in.”
Rutledge emphasized the sermon’s specific interpretation of the phrase “Run for Your Life, explaining that the message of the sermon was to “run for your life” towards Jesus.
“[The name] comes with a myriad of meanings, and that’s why it’s really interesting and why it’s picked up a lot of attention, I think, because it really can go in a lot of different directions. The original intent was that it was based around the sermon,” Rutledge said.. “It’s also like not [running] for her life, it is [running] for your life. And it’s made to be personal and to acknowledge what has happened.”
For Rutledge and Cannizzaro, the race represents more than crossing a finish line.
“I see so much love and fellowship amongst people at these events,” Rutledge said. “It’s a time of mourning and a time of joy and worship and prayer.”
“To me, what it’s all about is … let’s get together, let’s have a good time,” Cannizzaro said. “Let’s remember a classmate that we unfortunately lost, and let’s all love each other a little bit more. Let’s all get outside, let’s all exercise, let’s all just be a part of the community. I think that’s what I want it to be.”
Those interested can sign up here before 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21.
