A colorful sign stands in the grass at Lizzy’s Walk of Faith.“We have grown every single year in donations and participants,” John Wampler said. “This year is the largest year yet; we have over 1,500 participants and we’ve raised over $150,000.”

A table with framed photos of children from Columbia and the mid-Missouri area who have passed away from different pediatric cancers stands at Lizzy’s Walk of Faith. Lizzy Wampler, the daughter of John and Jennifer Wampler and the namesake of the walk, died of Osteosarcoma in 2018.

John and Jennifer Wampler present two $25,000 checks for the Osteosarcoma Institute and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Donations to Lizzy’s Walk of Faith Foundation go directly to helping families, other charities and foundations to help further research and fight against pediatric cancer.

Dayton Stevenson runs at Lizzy’s Walk of Faith while holding a flag. “I came from St. Louis to be here,” Stevenson said. “My brother is a police officer and he’s running out here with a big American flag somewhere…I’m glad I came.”

Truman the Tiger gives a high-five to a runner headed toward the finish line at Lizzy’s Walk of Faith. Other organizations at the 5K included MU Cheer, the Golden Girls, KC Wolf from the Kansas City Chiefs and many MU fraternities and sororities, who showed up with signs of support for participants.

A group of Zeta Tau Alpha members cheer for participants running toward the finish line. Zeta Tau Alpha won the spirit award given out by the Lizzy’s Walk of Faith Foundation for its posters and having the most energy of all the Greek Life organizations that showed up. Alpha Delta Pi won the participation award for having the most members from its chapter at the event.

A group of Delta Delta Delta members cheer on participants making their way through a neighborhood along part of the course at Lizzy’s Walk of Faith. Sororities and fraternities set up on corners and turns throughout the 5K course with signs of support.