MIDLAND, TX (KWES) - The second annual Root Beer Fun Run is coming up. It's a fundraiser for a scholarship fund which was created by a Midland High student's family who passed away in a tragic accident last year.
John Butler, 16, loved running and spending time outdoors. August 2017 would be the last time anyone would see his smile. But even though he's no longer here, John still leaves an everlasting impact on the community.
"He didn't want to see people behind, he was always inviting people into the crowd. That's kind of what we're doing here," said John's older brother Justin.
The John Thomas Butler Memorial Scholarship, created in John's memory, gives back to seniors in Midland, Odessa and Greenwood. John believed education was the key to success.
"My brother always wanted to make a big impact on the community so they thought they would do this to honor him," said Justin. "When you start paying for college, you realize college is pretty expensive, I wish I had a couple bucks to help me out so it's always fun to not pay more for college."
Which is why this year, the second annual Root Beer Fun Run is held. It's a mile-long race where runners drink a can of root beer before each lap they run. The fundraiser puts all proceeds straight into John's memorial fund.
Although it's a year later since John's passing, his legacy to inspire students to run on the right track to education continues to lives on.
The run will be on Saturday May 19 at 10 a.m. at Memorial Stadium in Midland. To register, click here.
