Waynesboro, Pa. —White balloons will line Vista Drive Thursday, April 14, as students from the St. Andrew School running club participate in Judy’s Challenge, a 1.5-mile run dedicated to raising funds for Waynesboro’s Pregnancy Ministries Inc. on behalf of the late Judy Clement and her family.
The run is to begin at 3:30 p.m. on the front lawn of St. Andrew Catholic Church on East Main Street and will take runners past the Clement home on Vista Court to show respect and support for the family.
Clement, the 45-year-old mother of nine, died after her van was hit by a speeding car early on March 17 at the intersection of West Main and Grant streets.
Original idea
Back in February, the 75 students involved with the St. Andrew running club wanted to create a challenge run to promote healthful living. After Clement’s death in March, the runners decided to make it fundraiser for PMI on behalf of Clement and her family.
“This is going to be a fundraiser, a drive to bring awareness to something that Judy was very passionate about — and that was the Pregnancy Resource Center here in Waynesboro,” said Chris Manning, leader of the St. Andrew student running club.
The Challenge
The big challenge of the 1.5-mile run will be the steep hill on Vista Drive behind Waynesboro Hospital.
“We wanted to run by the Clements’ house to show them that the St. Andrew’s entity supports them,” said Manning. The family has belonged to St. Andrew Catholic Church since 1998.
The challenge run, which was originally only for students in the running club and their families, has expanded greatly.
“This is getting so big,” Manning said.
Members of the local Catholic community from St. Andrew and St. Rita’s in Blue Ridge Summit, including their priests, are coming together for the fundraiser and members of CFAR, Waynesboro’s local running group Community, Fitness, Fun and Running, also are involved.
CFAR has been crucial in providing guidance and advice on how best to build the event, said Manning.
Manning also indicated that the Clement children who still live at home will also be participating.
Students and other participants are encouraged to bring $1 or more to donate to PMI. Initially, Manning was hoping to raise a few hundred dollars for PMI, but since the event is expanding her goal is closer to $1,000.
Helping a good cause
“We are so proud of these young people for their willingness to do something so special in the name of Judy and for the cause of life,” said Beverly Hannah, director of the Pregnancy Resource Center in Waynesboro.
Just a month ago, PMI in Waynesboro was in dire need of donations to keep its doors open.
“Donations are fewer and there’s less coming in,” Hannah told the Record Herald at the time. “This has caused the board to take a hard look at finances and there’s the possibility of closing the center.”
The scenario has changed in the last month, with the center receiving about $10,000, including almost $7,000 given in Clement’s memory.
“The ladies at the pregnancy center knew Judy very well because she was passionate about her faith and this ministry because it supports the ideals of the Catholic Church,” Manning said.
Haydee Middour and Penny Marks from PMI will be at the event handing out baked cookies and greeting the public.
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