Memorial Bench and Tree

As most of you know, we lost our dear friend, Kathy Pickering, last week.  Kathy worked with us at Miller Middle School, as our campus supervisor, and no one worked as hard as Kathy.  She was willing to dig in to anything we needed, and she had an incredible relationship with the staff and students.  Kathy always participated in all activities – to the fullest extent!  She made the most stressful situations fun – we still wonder how she was able to do that.  Kathy’s journey was long and difficult, but she fought hard to the very end. Kathy spent the last three years of treatment not as a victim, but as a role model for all of us. Despite the difficult situation, she continued to stay strong, live a life full of laughter, and inspired others to do so too. 
 


Kathy walked up Mt. Rubidoux every weekend after her chemotherapy treatments.  Each week the group that walked with Kathy grew.  She stopped a few times along the way, to catch her breath, and then kept on going.  We have been working with the City of Riverside, to purchase a beautiful bench with Kathy’s name engraved on a plaque that will be placed on the walk up Mt. Rubidoux.  We would also like to purchase a tree, which will be planted at the entrance to the walk up the mountain, in her honor.  We hope to raise a minimum of $4000.00 to pay for these items.  If there is extra money, we will offer scholarships to graduating RUSD students who have dealt with cancer to work out with Kathy’s personal trainer – Kathy would have loved this!