By Jeanni Ritchie
I was on my way to a pancake breakfast with my grandson last weekend when I told him we had to make a quick stop at ASH. Expecting to see a few people lined up to run in a 5K memorializing Lauren Vaughn, a nursing student who’d been killed in a car accident last year, I was shocked when I could barely find a parking spot.
Over 800 people had shown up to run with even more manning tables and tents!
It was no quick trip after all. Walking around the many tents set up, it became obvious that this was no ordinary life being celebrated. Lauren Vaughn was beloved by all.
Friends, family, and community members lined up to race, serve food to runners, or hand out gift bags to attendees. A photo backdrop was erected and police escorts lined the route to safety for the racers.
I spent some time at the Northwestern State University Cenla Campus tent. Nursing students set up a display bringing awareness to the community of tips and resources to manage areas of mental health.
Alexis Fowler of Hineston explained. “This is our service project for the year. We have to select a topic and we chose to help those suffering with depression, anxiety, and grief.”
In doing so, they honored Lauren who’d been a student in the accelerated Bachelor to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program on the Northwestern Shreveport campus. Their mission was to help others.
I was even given a rose to commemorate my own daughter’s life, cut short a little over thirty years ago. Remembering our loved ones in positive ways helps us grieve. This service project was designed for healing.
It was a project Lauren would’ve endorsed. “Lolo” or “LV” as she was lovingly called is now Forever 22 to her friends and family and she loved helping others. She was a talented softball player, a gifted student, a loving daughter, a protective sister, a doting aunt, a fierce friend, and a God-fearing Christian. Her smile literally brightened every room she walk in to and her dimples were like the cherry on top.
It was only fitting to see bright smiles on the faces of all the supporters who came out to celebrate her life.
To read more about the LV5K, visit https://www.lv5k.com.
Jeanni Ritchie can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.