By The Chronicle staff
The fourth annual Darian Paige Atkinson Memorial 5K, named in honor of Atkinson, a White Pass High School graduate who died in 2021 at the age of 25, is scheduled for Sunday, July 13, starting at the Glenoma Community Park.
“Like past years, the race will start at the Glenoma Community Park and take you through an area that Darian often visited with her family and dogs,” a Facebook event post stated. “There will be a 2-mile stroller-friendly fun run route as well as the 5K trail run.”
Beginning at 9 a.m., runners and walkers set out from the park and head toward the base of Dog Mountain. The course follows the base of Dog Mountain before looping back through the Kosmos Wildlife Area and returning to the park.
Registration is open online for $25 before June 30, or can be done in person on the day of the event starting at 8:30 a.m. for $30. Children 5 and under can run for free.
All proceeds from the event benefit the Darian Paige Atkinson Memorial Scholarship at White Pass High School.
The first 100 registered participants will receive a custom foam trucker hat. Both male and female first place finishers win a custom backpack cooler.
All participants will be entered into a raffle that will happen after the race. Additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase the day of the event.
For children running, a scavenger hunt will be along the trail as well.
Atkinson attended elementary school in Chehalis before moving to Randle, where she graduated from White Pass High School in 2014, according to her obituary.
“She won the hearts of the entire White Pass/Morton communities through her competitive nature and her natural ability to play sports. Most of her school years were busy playing basketball and softball,” her obituary reads.
She later graduated from Yakima Valley Community College and worked as an emergency room technician for Arbor Health Morton Hospital.
Glenoma Community Park is located at 306 Glenoma Road east of Riffe Lake. For more information on the fourth annual Darian Paige Atkinson Memorial 5K or to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/35he87rm.
