October 14, 2008

Walk/run promotes substance free living

The event honors Severson, a graduate student and residence hall counselor in Wiley Hall. Severson was the victim of a fatal shooting by a resident, who subsequently took his own life, following a drug incident in 1996.

Organizer Denton Sederquist. former Wiley Hall residential life manager, said Severson wanted to make life better for students who lived at Wiley Hall. The 5k walk/run raises funds that are used to promote drug-free living choices.

"Jay was a remarkable young man blessed with the ability to touch the lives of everyone he knew," said Sederquist, who now serves as general manger at Tarkington Hall. "His legacy lives on through his family and friends, those he touched, and those who help fight drug abuse, which indirectly took Jay's life."

Race entry fee is $10. Proceeds benefit the Jay Severson Memorial Fund, which provides money for education, training and counseling for the prevention of drug abuse.

Entry forms are available at any residence hall front office, and walk-up registration also will be available until 9:30 a.m. on race day.

The University Residences-sponsored event will start and end at the southwest entrance of Wiley Hall, 500 N. Martin Jischke Drive. Streets will remain open to vehicle traffic throughout the event.

Those who do not wish to participate in the walk/run but who would like to contribute to the fund can send checks to Jay Severson Memorial Walk/Run, 1165 West Stadium Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47906-4235. Make checks payable to the Purdue Foundation, with Jay Severson Memorial Fund written on the memo line.

For information, contact Sederquist, (765) 494-2174, sederquist@purdue.edu.

Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue,edu

Source: Denton Sederquist, (765) 494-2312, sederquist@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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