When Katie Nelson lost her battle with acute myeloid leukemia in 2020 at just 23 years old, her friends knew it shouldn’t put the brakes on all of the things she cared about.

Those friends created the KatieDid Foundation and launched a charity fun run, which held its fifth event over the weekend at Adams Township Community Park.

Over the years, more than $100,000 has been raised. That money helps community members who also have to deal with cancer as Katie did, but it also supports those who do mission work abroad through Global Dental Relief, a nonprofit based in Denver, as Katie did.

Katie was studying to become a dentist before she fell ill and took part in Global Dental Relief mission work. Now, the foundation in her name helps others continue that good work. The foundation also gives out scholarships to graduates of her alma mater, Mars Area High School, for those who want to pursue a career in the medical field.

“She just always talked about plans for what she wanted to do,” said foundation leader Maggie Sarver. “She was just such a light, so wonderful and just wanted to give back.”

Foundation leader Amber Fichter said the foundation is called KatieDid because they’re trying to do what Katie would have done.

There are so many things we can draw inspiration from surrounding this event.

It’s always amazing to see people who are able to turn their grief into action that benefits others. It’s such a difficult thing to do, but it’s so helpful to everyone involved. When someone leaves us so young, it can be hard to set aside all of the hopes and dreams you had for them. But Katie’s friends and family decided not to do that at all. Instead, they took those hopes and dreams and began making them come true for others, because they firmly believe if she were here, that’s what Katie would do.

It’s also wonderful to learn about Katie’s impact on others and to think about how we can impact others with our own lives. How can we be sure we’re the type of people who would inspire others to continue our legacy? How can we live our lives in such a way that others want to honor us, too?

It’s not about having events named for us or monuments in our name. It’s about being the kind of people who leave a mark, who leave this world better than they found it and inspire others to do the same.

It’s not a bad goal — it’s what Katie did.

— KL