More than 2,000 people participated in the first annual Laura Szendrei 5 & 10K Walk, Run and Roll on Sunday at Burnsview Secondary School.
Money raised from the event will go to the newly formed Laura Szendrei Memorial Scholarship Foundation Society, which will present annual scholarships to two Delta high school students.
Foundation committee member Wendy Colville said she was surprised by the turnout – organizers had expected about 500 participants.
“Our registration went crazy” in the 48 hours before the event, she said.
More than $47,000 was raised, with donations still coming in Monday. The event was part of a campaign to support the families of victims of violent crime.
Laura Szendrei, 15, was attacked in North Delta’s Mackie Park September 25, 2010. She died later in hospital.
An 18-year-old man was arrested in February and charged with first-degree murder.
Because he was 17 at the time of the offense he is accused of committing, under the Youth Criminal Justice Act he cannot be publicly identified.
