Last month, the northeastern Ohio running community lost a pivotal member. We are deeply saddened by the passing of GOH Run / Guardian Mile Founder, GOH Run Executive Director, and Guardian Mile Race Director, Rae Alexander. When her son Colby Alexander mentioned it would be fun to run a road mile across the Hope Memorial Bridge while competing as a professional runner in 2017, Rae took the idea and made it into what it is today. Rae was involved in every aspect of the race. From the porta-potties, to shirt colors, to ice cream flavors, Rae had a hand in every detail there was. You could always see Rae on race day with a huge smile on her face, loving the feeling of the Cleveland running community coming together for a fun night.

Rae dedicated her life to promoting running and physical activity in kids, elementary through high school. She was a retired PE teacher, and a well respected coach at Olmsted Falls, Strongsville, Medina, and Brecksville. She was the founder of GOH Run and director of youth running camps and races across Northeast Ohio.

To celebrate Rae's memory and continue her mission of uplifting young athletes, her friends, family, former student athletes and fellow members of the board of gOH Run are establishing a scholarship fund in her name to be given to high school student athletes in the sports of cross country or track and field that exhibit the passion and success for the sport that Rae embodied. Our goal is to raise enough funds to establish scholarships that can be awarded annually, ensuring Rae's spirit and influence live on for generations. By supporting this fund, you are helping student athletes pursue their dreams and keeping Rae's legacy alive in the community she cared so deeply for.

Her greatest joy was seeing others succeed, and have fun in the sport she was so passionate about. In the meantime... go for a run. Get training. Get out in nature. Volunteer to help someone else out. Rae would've liked that.