Fox Chapel

‘Biggest race to date’: North Park event raises money for scholarship fund

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John Griffith crosses the finish line with the event’s fastest 5-kilometer time of 16 minutes, 43 seconds.
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Heidi Webb of Forest Hills crosses the line as the top female finisher.
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Claire Costello of Hampton prepares for the start of the race.
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Members of the Cavanaugh family (from left) Susan, Vivian and Patrick are grateful for the support they receive at each year’s 5K event benefiting the Killian Cavanaugh Memorial Scholarship Fund.
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Maia Getz (left) and Camille Swirsding of GCXC Race Timing and Management assist during the event.
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Andrew Peterson of Pine finishes running 5 kilometers on July 27. He ran at the 2023 event, as well.
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Susan Cavanaugh is pictured between taking pictures at the seventh annual KILLIAN5K.
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Patrick Cavanaugh addresses participants prior to the start of the race.
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Vivian Cavanaugh helps chronicle the seventh annual KILLIAN5K.
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Get ready. Get set. Go!
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Isabella Porta (left) and Laura Valles volunteer at the registration table for the seventh annual KILLIAN5K.
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Volunteer Jenny Jee photographs the race finishers.
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Kasey Osman shows some of the more popular products from Iron City Beer, an event Platinum Sponsor.
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Alice Kimmel walks Jax, with Makenzie Marburger joining them, during the seventh annual KILLIAN5K.
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Jody Mayer and Matt Imhoff of GCXC Race Timing and Management are pictured prior to the start of the seventh annual KILLIAN5K.

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Credit could go to the cause, the course or perhaps the exceptionally cooperative weather.

Whatever the reason, the seventh annual KILLIAN5K race through the picturesque surroundings of North Park on the sunny morning of July 27 turned out to be a record-setting occasion, according to members the organizing family, Patrick, Susan and Vivian Cavanaugh of Pine.

“This year marks a significant milestone as our biggest race to date, with participation of around 600 people,” they said, including runners, walkers and those who provided support virtually. “We are thrilled to see the event grow so remarkably and are excited to watch it continue to expand with each passing year.”

Following the unexpected loss of Killian Cavanaugh, their 20-year-old son, Patrick and Susan decided to honor his memory by establishing a scholarship fund for student athletes at his alma mater, Shady Side Academy in Fox Chapel.

The Cavanaughs since have expanded the program to include Pine-Richland High School, from which Vivian, Killian’s sister, graduated.

Each year’s KILLIAN5K serves as the primary fundraiser for the pair of $10,000 scholarships, and supporters can mark July 26 on their calendars for the 2025 event at the same venue, outside the North Park Boathouse in McCandless.

For more information, visit www.killian5k.com.

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