Hundreds to Honor Laken Riley at 'Run for Your Life' 5K in Athens, Georgia

Community members gather to remember Laken Hope Riley and raise funds for the foundation established in her name.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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An inaugural memorial walk and run is set to take place this weekend in Athens, Georgia, as community members gather to remember Laken Hope Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered in 2024. The Run for Your Life Walk/Run 5K honors Riley's life and will be followed by a public memorial service featuring remarks from her family and Rep. Mike Collins. Funds raised will go to the Laken Hope Foundation, which supports causes Riley loved, including safety awareness for women, aid and tuition for nursing students, and children's healthcare.

Why it matters

The event aims to honor Riley's memory and bring the Athens community together, while also raising awareness and funds for important causes she cared about. It comes in the wake of her tragic murder, which has deeply impacted the local community and sparked discussions around issues like immigration policy and campus safety.

The details

The Run for Your Life Walk/Run 5K begins at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, February 21, at Tate Plaza in Athens. The event is being organized by Elizabeth Sun Designs in collaboration with Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) at the University of Georgia. A memorial service will follow from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and will include remarks from Riley's family, Rep. Mike Collins, and a message from Pastor Derek Anglin.

  • The Run for Your Life Walk/Run 5K will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • The memorial service will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the same day.

The players

Laken Hope Riley

A 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University who was murdered in 2024 while on a morning run on the University of Georgia campus in Athens.

Jose Antonio Ibarra

A Venezuelan national who had entered the United States illegally in September 2022 and was later arrested, charged, and convicted on multiple counts including kidnapping and murder in the death of Laken Riley. He is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Rep. Mike Collins

A U.S. Representative from Georgia who authored the Laken Riley Act.

Elizabeth Sun Designs

A family-owned workshop that produces handmade goods and is organizing the event in collaboration with Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) at the University of Georgia.

Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) at the University of Georgia

A student organization at the University of Georgia that is partnering with Elizabeth Sun Designs to organize the event.

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What they’re saying

“We must work to ensure that what happened to Laken Riley never happens again. Thank you to these great young leaders for keeping her memory alive.”

— Scott Walker, President of Young America's Foundation (Breitbart News)

“Laken could have been me. I don't run in public anymore and I always check in with my dad. Athens no longer feels safe and I just pray that this will redeem it in some way. I want my town to feel safe again. I wish this had never happened and I am passionate about bringing people to Jesus because when you truly do have that encounter with Him everything else starts to make sense.”

— Macy Rutledge, Organizer, Elizabeth Sun Designs (Breitbart News)

“After hearing about the event I was instantly invested. It sounded like an amazing initiative for Laken Riley and it was Christ focused.”

— Nick Kammerzell, Co-Chair, University of Georgia YAF (Breitbart News)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Jose Antonio Ibarra, Laken Riley's convicted murderer, out on bail.

The takeaway

This event honors the memory of Laken Riley and brings the Athens community together to support causes she cared about, while also raising awareness about issues of campus safety and immigration policy that have impacted the local area. It serves as a powerful reminder of the need to work towards justice and healing in the face of tragedy.