Fletcher, a mother and teacher, was killed during her early morning jog on Central Avenue two years ago.
Now people participating in the annual race say they are running to finish what Fletcher couldn’t.
(Photo by: WREG’s Quametra Wilborn)
(Photo by: WREG’s Quametra Wilborn)
(Photo by: WREG’s Quametra Wilborn)
“It’s a very emotional run. I think a lot of people will start crying,” said Catherine Batista, one of the runners.
It’s a story that still sends shockwaves through the community.
“It definitely opened my eyes because I think that we live in a fairy tale world, and everyone is just so nice and nothing bad would ever happen to anyone we know or love or anything like that. So, it’s very scary,” said Olivia Gattusos, another runner.
However, the brutal killing did not stop the community from coming together.
Since then, hundreds have gathered at Central and Belvedere each year to finish the 8.2-mile course that Fletcher could not.
Many of the runners say even though they didn’t know Fletcher personally, her story is personal to them and that’s why they showed up. And they say they will continue to show up to show support.
Eliza Fletcher
“You know you have to go to work at 8 a.m. So, you have to make time, and she had kids and stuff like that. So, you just are like I’m doing this because this is the only time I can,” Gattuso said.
“I’m just here to support all people who want to go and exercise. Women, men, and children should be able to without being scared,” said Kathy Owens, another runner.
Mayor Paul Young even participated in the run saying the city is continuing its part to ensure everyone feels safe in their own community.
“We want our officers to be present. We want this community to wrap their arms around the families that have lost loved ones and try to prevent this from happening again,” Mayor Young said.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0