At 8 a.m. Saturday, runners and walkers endured the cold to honor a fallen Purdue student.
The 5K walk/run honored Jay Severson, a graduate student and counselor in Wiley Hall, who was shot and killed Oct. 16, 1996 by Wiley resident Jarrod Eskew, a freshman in the School of Liberal Arts, allegedly because Severson had reported Eskew's drug use the night before. Eskew later killed himself.
"I just want people to remember that Jay gave his life to fight drugs," said Sandy Severson, Jay's mother.
Sandy, along with Jay's sister, Donnelle, led walkers on a one-and-a-half-mile course around campus while runners ran a 5K course.
"I like running and it's a good cause even if it is 8 a.m.," said Jason Stofleth, a freshman in the School of Pharmacy.
Participants were encouraged to make a $10 entrance donation. All proceeds from the event went to the Purdue Red Ribbon Week Fund, that provides money for education, training and counseling in the prevention of drug use and abuse.
Red Ribbon Week began as a memorial developed in 1986 to honor Enrique Camarena, a federal drug enforcement agent who was murdered in Mexico by drug traffickers.
The runners and walkers, led by a police escort, began and ended in front of Wiley Hall where refreshments were provided after the event.
"I heard about the event from newsletters in Windsor Hall; I like running and it's a good cause," said Sarah Turek, a junior in the School of Veterinary Medicine.
This was the sixth year the event, sponsored by University Residences, has been held.
"We're happy that they are still having it after six years; there still seems to be a pretty good turnout," said Sandy Severson.
