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Nearly 200 people helped raise over $1,000 for the National Brain Tumor Society, as the Go Gray in May 1K race in Silt May 11 was about more than who crossed the finish line first.
The 1K Emoji Fun Run, held at Roy Moore Park on Saturday morning, was organized by Garfield County teachers and students to support those individuals and families in the community impacted by brain tumors.
While cancer has touched everyone who participated in different ways, many of the runners, walkers and riders who came out on Saturday did it in support of Riverside Middle School’s Olive Byman.
A sixth grader, Byman has been battling a brain tumor since she was 3 years old. though the tumor took her sight, she remains an inspiration to many in the community.
While promoting the event, Byman said she was the oldest of seven kids in her family and one of 70,000 Americans living with a brain tumor today — “16,830 people will die from a brain tumor diagnosis this year. That number is way to high,” she said during the presentation.
She concluded that it is her hope to increase brain tumor awareness in the community through the event, and to help those fighting brain tumors to see they have a community supporting them in their fight.
Silt Fun Run 2
Colorado River Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) teacher Brooke Miller, who teaches students with visual impairments in Roaring Fork Schools, Garfield Re-2 and Parachute schools, said the event couldn’t have happened without volunteers. She thanked the town of Silt for putting it on.
“We want Olive to know there are other people in the valley suffering from brain tumors, and no one is alone in their fight,” she added.
The race ended at Veteran’s Memorial Park and went straight to the Silt Police Department Bike Rodeo.
Beth Byman, Olive’s mother, said they were very humbled and thrilled with the turnout they saw on Saturday.
The Byman family moved to Silt a year ago on the date of the run, and while it was not an easy decision for them to make, Beth Byman said it ended up being a great fit.
“We feel like the community has really embraced our family and our daughter’s story,” she added.
“We thought we wouldn’t be able to [make the move] but she wouldn’t let this stop her, and we have to pursue our dreams,” she said.