Memorial Walk/Run will be held at Tusky Valley Nov. 17

Nov. 14 marks exactly one year since a bus accident in Licking County claimed the lives of six people from the Tusky Valley community: Wyatt Mosley, JD Worrell, Katelyn Owens, Kristy Gaynor, and Dave and Shannon Wigfield. The students, teachers and chaperone were headed to Columbus, where the band would perform at the Ohio School Boards Association conference.

On Sunday, Nov. 17, a Memorial Walk/Run will be held at the Tusky Valley High School stadium in honor of those lost. From noon to 6 p.m., people can run or walk six laps or 6 miles, paying tribute to the victims.

There is no cost to participate in the event, and all are welcome. Last year’s event, which included a blood drive, drew approximately 100 people. More than 20 units of blood were donated, and $1,050 in cash was given to the TVStrong Fund.

“Those we lost on Nov. 14, 2023, were always giving of themselves and their time,” said Dr. Derek Varansky, Tusky Valley superintendent. “The blood drive is a great way to give in their honor and celebrate their lives.”

The organizers of this year’s event have invited family members and band members to run the lead lap. Josh Keane said Varansky reached out to him for help organizing the event this year. Other members of the committee are Lisa Keane, Mike Penso, John Fabianich McClay and Lynett McClay.

Lisa Keane said 15 local churches in the Tusky Valley community have offered to help. “We’re asking each of them to donate water, snacks, coffee, hot chocolate — whatever they want to bring for the people participating.”

Penso said a group of Tusky Valley families were already entertaining the idea of putting an event together based on the success of last year’s walk/run. Penso and Jody Engstrom had presented a Tusky Valley flag to the board of education bearing the signatures of those who participated in the event.

The committee has plans to make the Memorial Walk/Run an annual event and name it Stand with the Band. A tentative date of Nov. 15, 2025, has been set for that event.

“Race Brimstone has stepped up and said they’d manage a race if we added one,” Josh Keane said. “We will still do the six-hour Memorial Walk/Run and blood drive but add a race — probably a 6k race and a 1-mile fun run — to raise scholarship funds for Tusky Valley students by charging a registration fee.”

Several scholarships have been established in the past year, and those who wish may donate toward the funds the day of the event.

Organizers also are hoping people will step up and donate to the blood drive, which will be conducted by Vitalant. Representatives of Vitalant ask those who plan to donate to eat before doing so. Sixteen-year-olds can donate blood by having a signed parental consent form. Blank forms are available in the high school office.

Vitalant also is asking donors to register prior to the event if possible. Registration can be done online by visiting www.vitalant.org and clicking the Tusky Valley High School box under Opportunities in your area.

For eligibility information, call Vitalant at 877-258-4825. For questions about the Memorial Walk/Run, call Lisa Keane at 330-224-1864.