CRANBERRY TWP — For the past nine years, the Race for Virginia & Friends 5K Run/Walk held on the Fourth of July has raised more than $370,000 for pediatric cancer research at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

This year, the 10th anniversary of the run, will be its final race.

“Virginia would have graduated from high school this year, and the board decided this will be the final year for the race,” said Bob Markovich, race director.

The race was started by Morgan Laskey and a group of parents in honor of the late Virginia Clark, who died on March 13, 2002.

Virginia had been a third-grader at St. Alphonsus School in Wexford.

Laskey, then just 14, had helped Virginia's Seneca Valley Junior Football cheerleading program and wanted to help keep Virginia's spirit alive through the race.

Started in July 2002, the Race for Virginia set out to accomplish two purposes, according to event organizers.

First, remember the life and spirit of Virginia, a victim of neuroblastoma, just a month after her ninth birthday.

The second is to raise as much money as possible for pediatric cancer research, so other children and their families would be spared the pain of dealing with the deadly effects of cancer.

“It's great fun. It's not solemn or sad. It's celebrating these children's lives,” said Nancy Clark, Virginia's mother.

“Virginia would have loved the race if she were here because she loved being a part of big parties.”

Clark explained as a parent of a child who has died young, you worry whether your child will be remembered by people other than yourself.

Through the race, these children are remembered and live on in other people's lives, she said.

When the race began honoring other children that lost their lives to cancer, Clark said, she only knew one of the children.

But, through the race, she got to know all their stories and about their lives.

Wendy Parish, one of the race's organizers that has been with the event since its inception, said that earlier organizers didn't think the race would last more than one year.

However, the event was so successful, it continued on for the past decade.

New families that had lost children to pediatric cancer helped support it over the years, but Parrish explained a core group of volunteers helped keep the event going.

With many of the parents' children graduating high school this year, as would have Virginia, the organizers decided to make this the race's last year.

“I can't explain how important this race was for me personally. It's been a wonderful ride. We're hoping the race goes out on top,” said Parrish, who's hoping to top the more than 1,000 racers who participated last year.

Each year the race honored a courageous child who has battle the disease.

Being the final year, the race will honor the memory of children of the past nine years who have inspired the group to raise funds to combat pediatric cancer.

Sam McConahy, Kayla Sansone, Alex Poust, Elijah King, Elora Geier, Saxon Kieswetter, Danielle Wick, Riley Scheiller and Virginia Clark all displayed a zest for living and an unbelievable amount of courage during their brief lives, Parrish said.

The $20 entry fee entitles participants to refreshments, $10 Dicks gift card and a race packet. Race t-shirts are guaranteed to the first 750 registrants.

Registration is available at www.raceforvirginia.org.

<B>WHAT:</B> The 10th and final Race for Virginia & Friends 5K Run/Walk to benefit pediatric cancer research at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC<B>WHEN:</B> 8:30 a.m. July 4<B>WHERE:</B> Cranberry Township Community Park off Route 19<B>REGISTRATION:</B> Cost is $20 at www.raceforvirginia.org. Registration also will be accepted before the start of the race.<B>INFO:</B> E-mail at info@raceforvirginia.org or call 724-772-7429.<B></B>