Run continues to raise money, awareness for Jill Behrman 11 years later

The 12th anniversary Jill Behrman 5K run/walk and one-mile walk raised about $12,000 for Jill Behrman Emerging Leadership Scholarship and Jill’s House. There were 1,058 participants Saturday.

“It went great,” said Chris Geary, director of programming and research for Campus Recreational Sports. “It is a nice mix of students, people from the community and faculty and staff. The feedback we’ve gotten has been really positive.”

Behrman, who was an IU student and Campus Recreational Sports employee, disappeared while taking a bike ride in 2000. Three years later, she was found murdered.

The race was created to keep her memory alive and bring awareness to issues of violence in the Bloomington community.

Along with Campus Recreational Sports, the JB5K Student Steering Committee organized the event, said Geary, who is the committee’s adviser.

“They are able to take what they learn in class and apply it to real life,” she said. “It is a great event and a fun day.”

Geary said interested students can apply for the steering committee through the JB5K website.

“It is a great event for the IU campus and Bloomington community,” she said. “We are already looking forward to next year.”

In addition to Saturday’s race day events, there will be workshops related to assault awareness, assault prevention and self-defense.

The next workshop will be at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Student Recreational Sports Center auditorium.

The Jill Behrman Emerging Leadership Scholarship is awarded to two students every spring for $1,000 each. The awards recognize students who have demonstrated the characteristics of an emerging leader. Applications are available at jb5k.com.

— Claire Aronson