Gallery • 6 Photos

Jackie Destefano

Artist Joseph Gormley paints at the Run For Beigel event in memory of Scott Beigel, a geography and cross country coach who died in the shooting at MSD. Gormley encourages attendees to come up and help contribute to the painting to bring the community even closer together.

The Run 4 Beigel Project held its annual run in memory of geography teacher and cross country coach Scott Beigel, who died in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting; the event took place on Sunday, March 5, for the fifth since its creation. 

 Beigel’s mother Linda Beigel Schulman and her husband, Michael Schulman started the nonprofit organization program days after their son’s death.

“This is an amazing event for a very worthwhile cause,” Principal Michelle Kefford said. “I am happy to participate and support the Schulman family and the Run 4 Beigel.”

The race was hosted at Pine Trails Park in Parkland and took place from 7:45 a.m. to 8:05 a.m. Attendees could choose between a 10K, 5K or a 1K. Each participant paid $40 to run in the race, except for those on a racing team, in which the team paid for its members. The money is then donated to the Scott J. Beigel Memorial.

“Every summer, the Run 4 Beigel project sends children that have been affected by gun violence to summer sleep away camps,” MSD geography teacher Robyn Mickow said.

So far, the Run 4 Beigel has raised almost $1,000,000 in total and has opened seven camps in Florida. The project uses sponsors to raise money as well. The project has already sent 680 kids to camp since 2018. 

“It means a lot to me to participate in the race because I train very hard for these runs… It also helps my portfolio which helps me get into different clubs and future races,” freshman and second place winner of the 14 and younger age division Owen Sarrazit said.

Road Runner Sports and the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Hotel offer prizes for the first-place male and female winners. Road Runner Sports offered a one hundred dollar gift card to first place, a seventy-five dollar gift card to second place and a fifty dollar gift card to third place. Marriott Hotels gave four gift certificates, each worth $1000, to the top female and male 5K and 10K runners.

“I always love the Run 4 Beigel event because it really brings the communities together,” Parkland Mayor Rich Walker said. “I mean, this is a wonderful event. It’s so great to see the community get together to continue to support.”

During the Run 4 Beigel event, a live portrait of Beigel was painted by artist Joseph Gormely and participants of the race. 

“It is an absolute huge honor to be here today and to paint this portrait of a real hero, to get the community to come paint with me on the canvas,” Gormley said. “I’m just bursting with pride and honor for Scott and his family.”

The Run 4 Beigel united the community in memory of Beigel. This year’s event had the biggest showing of all the past five years with over 800 participants.