Burrell graduate hands over reins of wellness 5K to current students

A Burrell alumna is passing the baton of coordinating a 5K race to six high school students.

Grace Nesko, now a freshman at Shippensburg University, managed the 5K wellness run and walk the past two years at K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Park in Lower Burrell.

The race raises awareness and funds for mental health advocacy. In 2023, there were 61 participants; 54 ran or walked the race last year.

Although Nesko is roughly three hours away from Lower Burrell, she’s working with current Burrell sophomores Riley Quinn, Leah Waldsmith, Samantha and Sophia Gregg, Sara Rayburg and Journey Wenner to keep the 5K running.

This year’s race is scheduled for Aug. 9.

Proceeds will continue to go to the JED Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes emotional and mental health, and suicide prevention, Waldsmith said.

“I love the event, and I love the cause we help,” Nesko said. “I wanted to keep doing that. Being involved with it was an important part of my life.”

Quinn said the group watched Nesko put on the race last year and learned a lot from that experience.

“Most of us had never run in a 5K, let alone organize it,” Quinn said. “We saw everything and all the hard work (Nesko) put in to organize the race. It’s a lot, and it’s admirable.”

At Shippensburg, Nesko is studying psychology and is on the cross country and track and field teams. She intends to pursue a career with the FBI.

Nesko said coordinating the 5K does have its challenges, such as getting the finances in order and the overall stress on the day of the event. Waldsmith said it can be tricky planning the event with Nesko being out of the area and in college, but they are making it work.

They anticipate reaching out to sponsors and promoting the event in coming weeks and months, Quinn said.

The tradition is something they hope to continue, Waldsmith said.

“Once we’re seniors, I think we’re going to do what Grace did, and find people to continue it and show them the ropes,” Waldsmith said.