About 250 runners came together on Saturday at Doherty High School to support the Half The Sky Foundation and to remember Laurel Constantinides and her daughters Hannah, 8, Zoey, 5, and Lucia, 2, who died on July 18 when their van plunged into rain-swollen, raging creek in Wyoming.
The Half The Sky 5K was a fundraiser for the foundation, which serves to enrich the lives and enhance the prospects of orphaned children in China who wait to be adopted, and those who will spend their childhood in orphanages.
The run also showed support for Dr. Alex Constantinides, physician for the Doherty High School athletic teams, the father and only family member to survive the accident. He and his wife had adopted their daughters through the program.
Constantinides ran in the race.
"This is just humbling," he said. "To see so many people here. It's a phenomenal time for the school and the community."
He said it was good to be among his friends participating in an event for a good cause.
"It's one day at a time, right now," he said. "And today will be easier to get through."
The event was organized during a three-week flurry of activity by Doherty cross country and track coach Ron Duensing.
"People kept asking what they could do to help," Duensing said. "We figured we're pretty good at putting on cross country meets, we might as well do a race. We didn't know what would happen, but we're really happy with the number of people who came out."
Fountain-Fort Carson High School graduate and Boulder Running Company runner Jay Luna, 27, of Denver, won with a time of 16 minutes, 59 seconds. The Boulder Running company's Cassie Slade, 24, of Highlands Ranch, won the women's race in 18:24
Constantinides was hailed as a hero in Wyoming. After realizing he had lost his family, he trudged upstream to help rescue the mayor of Saratoga, Wyo., whose vehicle was stuck in the high, fast water.
PHOTOS: Half the Sky Gallery 1 here ... http://www.pikespeaksports.us/photo/albums/half-the-sky-5k-gallery-1
Half the Sky Gallery 2 here ... http://www.pikespeaksports.us/photo/albums/half-the-sky-5k-gallery-2