Remembering loved ones who have passed and supporting a local agency that cares for the dying. That’s the idea behind Run in Remembrance, a 5K run/walk slated for 8 a.m. Saturday Oct. 16 to benefit Community Hospice.

The race will start and finish behind Ohio University Southern at Ninth and Heplar streets.

Runners and walkers are encouraged to participate in memory of someone who has passed away, said Mandy Medinger, marketing and community outreach specialist for the organization.

About 80 people from through the Tri-State including Proctorville, Ashland, Flatwoods, Huntington and Grayson have signed up for the race. Medinger says they hope to have 150 by the day of the race.

“We have children ages 11 to 18 and then a lot of people ages 65 and over running,” Medinger said. “We have a wide variety of people participating.”

One of the runners is Frank Lumberg, of Ashland. Lumberg, who volunteers as a greeter at Hospice, is running in memory of his mother-in-law, Lillian Richter, who died several years of a stroke.

“I’m a runner anyway and I run in most of the races in the area,” he said. So when Hospice decided to have the race, he thought participating would be a good opportunity. “I really appreciate what hospice does,” he said.

This is the first year that Hospice has had the fundraiser. Medinger said the organization hopes to make it an annual event.

“We definitely hope to build on this from year to year,” she said. “I’m thrilled with the number we got. I was pleasantly surprised with the response.”

Registration, which is $20 per person, can be done online at www.chospice.org or at www.Tristateracer.com or by calling 532-8841. Participants may also sign up the day of the race.