The annual “K5K: A Run for Kendra” was held last weekend at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront on 24^th street to celebrate the life of Kendra R. Atherton and raise awareness for breast cancer. The race has generated enough money in the past to provide $37,500 in scholarships to college-bound high school seniors who have lost a parent to cancer.

Four years ago, the siblings, friends, and children of Kendra R. Atherton looked for a way to celebrate her life and the hard battle she fought against breast cancer. Her son Hunter Atherton came up with the idea to start a 5K run in her honor and the K5K was born. Starting as a small race at Cape Henry, the numbers have grown dramatically and the race is now at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

Family, friends, avid runners, and others in the community come out to run and remember a woman that touched so many people’s lives.

Sophomore Jensen O’Neill was close to Atherton and saw first hand the effects that breast cancer had on her body.

“The K5K means so much to me because I knew Kendra personally,” O’Neill said.

O’Neill and her family played a big part in planning and executing the K5K. Giving the money raised back to the community is a big part of what the race is all about.

“The fact that my dad puts on this 5k to benefit kids who have lost a parent to cancer really makes me look at life differently and want to help out anyone in need.”