The Nicholas A. Smith Foundation is hosting an “Eskibeau 5K Run” to remember the life of former student Nicholas Smith and to raise funds for Bible major scholarships, summer camps and mission trips.
According to the website, The Nicholas A. Smith Foundation is a “non-profit organization focused on honoring the memory of Nicholas A. Smith by providing financial support in three areas for those in need.” Amy Smith, founder of the organization and Nicholas Smith’s mother, said her son was passionate about Biblical secondary education, summer camps and missions. The foundation is seeking to raise money through the 5K for scholarships to help those wishing to major in Bible at Christian universities.
“We want to make sure money isn’t a setback for those kids,” Amy Smith said. “For some kids it may be scholarships for books and tuition, for some it may be for housing and for some it may be that they need a little bit of extra money in their pocket so they aren’t broke all of the time. If it is something they feel God is leading them to, we want to make it a little bit easier for them to make that choice.”
According to Amy Smith, hosting a 5K run seemed to be a fun, simple way to raise a substantial amount of money while also allowing the community to gather together to remember her son. Amy Smith said multiple vendors offered to sponsor the event, with the most notable being Coca-Cola, who will provide all of the water needed.
“That was the most amazing thing,” Amy Smith said. “Anyone who knows Nicholas knows that that poor kid doesn’t drink anything but Coca-Cola. I couldn’t get him to drink milk, and I could barely get him to drink water – it was always Coke. So when they came on board it was an awesome, awesome thing.”
Alumnus and Nicholas Smith’s childhood friend Tyler Nutt is planning to participate in the event. Nutt said he is excited to reconnect with those who were also close to Nicholas Smith.
“I’m looking forward to seeing my friend group,” Nutt said. “It’s kind of weird how the friend group revolved around Nicholas. He wasn’t the loudest guy, but he was friends with everyone in the group. When he passed, that group became super strong. If there’s anything good that came from Nicholas’ passing, it’s that I gained much deeper relationships in the people in our group.”
Senior Maurisa Hughes, another friend of Nicholas Smith, said the race will bring an opportunity for healing.
“I am most looking forward to the healing that I know this race will bring,” Hughes said. “Many significant milestones are coming this time of year, so many ‘firsts’ without Nicholas. It is the perfect opportunity to band together around the Smith family and show that we are all still hurting and healing together.”
Nutt said that although he runs on a semi-regular basis, his goal will not be to finish the race with a specific time. On the contrary, Nutt said he will run to help memorialize his good friend.
“The purpose of this isn’t winning a race,” Nutt said. “The purpose is to remember Nicholas and all of the great things he did in his life. He had such a servant heart and always wanted to include everyone. He didn’t have any enemies, and that’s a hard thing to do.”
The race will take place in downtown Buford, Georgia, on Saturday, December 12, at 7:30 a.m. The race fee is $30, and registration closes on Dec 11. For those not able to physically participate, there is a phantom runner option. For more information visit www.nicholasasmith.org.
