5k honors teen who died
BUTLER TWP — Erin and Brion Linnon are carrying on their son's memory with another charity 5-kilometer run/walk this year.
The run is in memory of Ethan Linnon, who died in a car accident in October 2015. Ethan, 18, attended Butler High School and was an avid cross-country runner.
“We're just paying forward from a tragedy that our family never expected to face,” said Erin Linnon of Butler Township. “You do what you can in this unexpected time. You try to make a difference in other people's lives.”
All proceeds from the Ethan Linnon Memorial 5k Run/Walk will go toward scholarships for Butler High School graduates. Fifteen seniors were awarded scholarships of $1,000 each at a ceremony on Thursday.
The scholarship money is from last year's event.
This year's run will be held June 10 at the Odd Fellow Gazebo in Alameda Park. Same-day registration is at 7 a.m. and the event will begin at 8 a.m.
Ethan was a superhero enthusiast, with a particular emphasis on Batman, so the run will repeat last year's comic-book theme.
Erin Linnon expects “the same gist” of the cape-wearing participants of last year. She also expects to see Batman, Superman and Captain America T-shirts.
New to this year's event will be gift baskets donated by friends of the Linnon family. Participants will be able to enter raffles to win baskets featuring Yeti coolers, passes to a day spa, and even Pittsburgh Penguins gear including an autographed Marc Andre Fleury picture.
As of Thursday, 532 people had registered for the event. Erin Linnon expects the total number to be close to last year's 753 participants.
Anyone can register for $30 at livelikee.com. There also will be a registration event at the Odd Fellows Gazebo from 4 to 6 p.m. June 9.
Those who registered by Wednesday will receive a T-shirt and Tervis insulated cups. Those who register after will not be guaranteed T-shirts and cups, though Erin Linnon said she will do her best to ensure everyone receives the gear.
The top three male and female finishers will receive awards, and medals will be given to the top males and females in each age group.
The seven age groups are: 13 and younger; 14 to 19; 20 to 29; 30 to 39; 40 to 49; 50 to 59; and 60 and older.
Erin Linnon emphasized that the event is both a run and walk.
“Pretty much everybody can walk,” she said. “We don't want to discourage anybody by making them think they have to jog.”
Erin Linnon also hopes to emulate last year's race atmosphere.
“The love that we got from the community that day, everybody just shared that with each other,” she said. “People told us for days what a magical morning it was.”
She also shared her thoughts on how Ethan would feel if he could see the event.
“I know he would want us to keep living life and share his joy of life,” she said. “So we know he would be giving us thumbs up.”
