This race is the first of what we hope to make into an annual fundraiser. Proceeds from this race will be donated to University of Michigan CS Mott Children’s Hospital in honor of our late son Lennox Lapsley. For 2022, we will specifically be donating to UofM’s research project related to ECMO.

This race comes to you all as both this fundraiser and a memorial. Lennox Lapsley was born in July of 2021, and after just one short month, he passed away from complications from a congenital heart defect. Though his story is a short one, Lennox’s parents, Luke and Misti, hope that his life is one that can continually make a difference for others.

Before Lennox’s birth, his dad, Luke ran his very first half marathon as a fundraiser to help with the medical and travel costs his family would face after Lennox’s birth. The logo and name for this race came from Luke’s goal for running – both to strengthen his health and provide for his future child.

We hope to continue the tradition of sharing good health with families around the country, both through building heart strength by running, and by donating all proceeds to help babies and children with heart problems get the medical help they need to heal. We’ve chosen CS Mott Children’s Hospital as the recipient because of the amazing care given to Lennox during his stay there. We trust that with further funding and research, the medical teams there will be able to get other babies born with congenital heart defects up and running with healed, healthy hearts as they go through life.

We hope that this half marathon is one that inspires you as you run through our beautiful, rural community of Millboro, SD! If you have any questions or comments, please contact us through the Contact page on this website.