Buckeye Education Foundation to host memorial race and fun run

MEDINA — The Buckeye Education Foundation will have a memorial race dedicated to former Buckeye Local Schools Superintendent Craig Bailey today. Shannon Swank, who is working with the Buckeye Education Foundation to help put on the event, said the race has been going on for several years but this year it will be chip-timed and there will be medals for first, second and third place for different age brackets. After the race there will be a "family fun day" until noon. At the event, there will be a bounce house and face painting, weather permitting. People from the booster program will be in attendance to sell apparel and other items and a group called The Giveback Initiative will be selling athletic shoes at a discounted price. "(It's a) time for the community to come and hang out and make a little bit more of a fun day out of it than just having that run," Swank said. Bailey founded the Buckeye Education Foundation in 2003. He died in 2016. The goals of the foundation are to promote student development, encourage employee creativity and excellence, develop school, business and community partnerships and promote the school district as a center for community learning. The money raised through events such as this one supports school programs through grants, Swank said. For example, the foundation is supporting a running club that has been leading up to this memorial race. The event will take place at Buckeye's Track and Soccer Complex on 3044 Columbia Road. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the 5K race begins at 9:30 a.m. with the 1-mile fun run following the race. Tickets are $25 per person and online registration is required for each attendee. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/39HjU0n. "It's just a good day to come and hang out with the rest of the community and show their support for the schools," Swank said. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.