Welsh Family Hall will sponsor its sixth annual Clary, Murphy, Thomas Run Saturday to honor and raise scholarship funds in memory of three members of the Class of 2002 who lost battles with leukemia during their time at Notre Dame.
The Run is a 5K loop around campus that will begin and end in front of Welsh Family Hall, Welsh Family rector Candace Carson said.
Start time for the run is 10 a.m., and a post-race prayer service will be held in the Welsh Family Hall chapel around 10:45 in remembrance of Brionne Clary, Miranda Thomas and Connor Murphy - the three students for whom the race is named.
Funds for the run are raised through runners' registration fees and all the money goes to scholarships that are not yet fully funded.
"Once they are funded, we will be able to award them to three students," Carson said. "The more students that participate in the event, the faster we can raise money for the scholarships."
Sophomore Drew Clary, a relative of Brionne, helped to organize this year's run and will attend both the race and prayer service, Carson said.
"Family members of Brionne and Connor are usually in attendance at the prayer service," Carson said.
The first run took place in 2001, when members of the residence halls of all three students wanted to do something to keep the memory of their classmates alive and positively contribute to the Notre Dame community.
Brionne Clary was a resident of Welsh Family Hall, Miranda Thomas lived in Walsh Hall and Connor Murphy resided in Zahm Hall, Carson said.
"After the passing of these students, all three of their halls wanted to do something to sustain their memories and honor them," Carson said. "Welsh Fam initiated the Clary, Murphy, Thomas Run, and it has become one of our Hall's signature events."
In addition to organizing and sponsoring the run, Welsh Family Hall remembers its former resident Clary by awarding The Brionne Clary Memorial Award for sportsmanship. The Award goes to the "Welsh Fam senior athlete who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, dedication and courage, which Brionne held so dear," Carson said.
Welsh Family presidents, vice presidents, commissioners and residents have all contributed to planning the event and have volunteered to help on the day of the race.
"This year Lauren Murray, Lauren Shuttleworth, Amy Saxer, Catherine Reynolds, Georgia Steenberge and Drew Clary have all been instrumental in organizing the event," Carson said.
Runners can pre-register for the race today and tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 7 in LaFortune or South Dining Hall.
