Over 300 runners participated in this year’s Megan Hammerle 5K under clear, beautiful skies and perfect weather. The race celebrates the life of Megan Hammele, who died on February 13, 2015 from a rare form of meningitis during her freshman year at DePauw University. The Hammerle 5K also helps raise money and awareness for the Boone County Mentoring Partnership.
“Megan was a sincere and wonderful person. She loved music, reading, and art. Her family and friends miss her, and this community misses her dearly, too,” says Matt Wilson, Executive Director of the Boone County Mentoring Partnership. “We’ve helped organize and support this 5K every year since she died, and every year more and more people come to remember her, get some exercise, and share in her memory and the value of community.”
This year’s Hammerle 5K raised over $17,000 for the BCMP, which will be used to fund supplies and tickets for youth in need — such as bicycles for transportation, or gear to learn new and valuable skills or hobbies. Funds will also be used to help cover costs directly associated with connecting mentors and mentees across Boone County.
“We also want to make a special thanks to Megan’s family, the volunteers who helped us set up and prepare for the event, our friends at Lebanon High School for letting us use the track, and the vendors who helped supply food and drinks,” says Wilson. “This was a community effort for the benefit of everyone involved.”
Registrants from this year’s 5K can expect to get photos from the event soon and will be announced here and on Facebook when they become available.
If you’d like to support BCMP, you can donate online, inquire about becoming a mentor, or learn about mentorship opportunities for youth. In addition, you can contact us to inquire about sponsoring the 2025 Megan Hammerle 5K or how to volunteer for next year’s event.