The Alicia Titus Memorial Peace 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 9 a.m. The Run/Walk will begin at the Urbana University Student Center and proceed through downtown Urbana, Freedom Grove and return to the Student Center. Post-race activities will include a Kids for Peace tent, award presentations, music, door prizes and food, all generously donated by local merchants and friends.
Alicia’s Peace Run is our annual fundraiser to honor Alicia Titus and all those whose lives were taken on Sept. 11, 2001. Alicia was a 1991 graduate of Graham High School and a graduate of Miami University. She also attended Urbana University. She was a flight attendant on United Flight 175 on 9/11. Music after the Run will be provided by David Woodrow and friend, Anastasia. David leads worship at the Recovery Church on Friday’s in the Urbana Monument Square and plays music with Daniel Clarkson who runs the Urbana House of Prayer.
The Alicia Titus Memorial Peace Fund was established in 2002 by Rev. Betsy Coffman along with Alicia’s parents, John and Bev, to honor Alicia and all the victims of the 9/11 attack on America. “The purpose of the fund is to carry out the legacy and spirit of Alicia’s life by sponsoring programs for the University and community that promote and support a culture of peace.” The “fund” also provides programs and events throughout the year designed to promote community peace building and in support of the City of Urbana which became the 145th International “City of Peace” in September, 2016.
Other events and activities for the coming year sponsored by the Alicia Titus Peace Fund will include the following: The Peace Day Challenge & “Feast for Peace” on Sept. 21, celebrating Urbana City of Peace and International Day of Peace Nonviolent Communication Class beginning on Oct. 16 (this 6-week class is free to the public); The Great Kindness Challenge for local schools Jan. 22 through Jan. 26; The Season for Nonviolence, Jan. 30 through April 4, celebrates and honors the lives of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Ghandi; Cooperative Service Volunteer Program linking Urbana University students with the Urbana community. Contact Tammy Leiker (937-772-9246) at Urbana University for more information.
This year, in conjunction with Dr. Christopher Washington, Vice President and Provost at Urbana University, the inaugural “Knights’ Peace Award” was established and will be announced at halftime of the Blue Knights football game at the Urbana University stadium on Sept. 9. The recipient of this distinguished honor will be given to Logan Cole, shooting victim at West Liberty High School in January of 2017. The Knights’ Peace Award was established to honor individuals who demonstrate the virtues necessary to persist in the quest for peace and unity. These include: courage, justice, mercy, generosity, faith, nobility and hope. Additionally, this annual award honors the life and spirit of Alicia Titus.
Online registration for the 5K and 1 Mile Run/Walk ends at midnight Sept. 6. Same day registration will begin at the Student Center beginning at 8 a.m. (T-shirt not guaranteed). Urbana University is a branch campus of Franklin University.
