North Port Athletic Rewind April 2017 | Page 16

16 | NPAR 5K race to be held in memory of HCMS teacher, community supporter, friend “It was a natural thing because Holly was such a good runner and she was always at local races,” Nguyen said. Written by: Megan Hart NPAR Correspondent M embers of the North Port community will come together on Sunday, May 14 for the Holly Morgan Fisher Memorial 5K Race and 1-Mile Walk, which will commemorate the late Heron Creek Middle School teacher. Fisher, a mother of three, tragically passed away earlier this year. She taught sixth-grade world history at Heron Creek and was an avid member of the local running community. The 5K race and 1-mile walk will raise money to support the Fisher Family Scholarship Fund and the North Port High School Athletic Department in her honor. Phu Nguyen, who coaches the NPHS boys cross country team, is a member of the event organizing committee. He said hosting a 5K seemed like the perfect way to celebrate Fisher’s life and her commitment to the local community. “It was a natural thing because Holly was such a good runner and she was always at local races,” he said. “The organizing committee is really a running community, so we knew we had to do something like this right away.” Both the race and walk will take place at NPHS, and registration for the events is now open. The 5K will provide members of the local community with the rare opportunity to run on NPHS’s cross country course, which plays host to one of the biggest high school cross country meets in the state every year, Nguyen said. Nguyen also anticipates it to be an emotional day. “We except it to be a great race, a great atmosphere and we’re hoping people will enjoy being there and celebrating Holly,” he said. Nguyen said the planning committee hopes to turn the Holly Morgan Fisher Memorial 5K into an annual event. The planning process has gone well so far, with many local businesses and organizations stepping up as sponsors, Nguyen said. Fisher was an important member of the Heron Creek community. Her parents told NBC2 that she loved her students.