Friends, family honoring Dudgeon's caring spirit with scholarship fund

HEATH - Mandy Culbertson was not at school the day Gracie Dudgeon befriended her daughter Katie, but she has a good idea of what transpired.

"They met in preschool when they were 4," Culbertson recalled. "I am sure Katie was sitting alone reading in the corner, and I remember she came home and said, 'I made a friend.' She was telling me about the little girl with crazy curly hair. They lived right around the corner from us, and we had no idea."

For the next six years despite their opposite personalities, Katie and Gracie were inseparable during their time at Montessori Community School and then Stevenson Elementary. That friendship came to a tragic end when 10-year-old Gracie Dudgeon died unexpectedly in February.

It rocked Culbertson, who also was Gracie's cheerleading coach in the Heath Sertoma Youth Athletic Association. The past six weeks have been dedicated to honoring Gracie and keeping her memory alive.

"It all started with a tea party play date," Culbertson said. "She was such a positive and kind child. It just makes so much sense (to honor her)."

Culbertson is one of the organizers of the Live Like Gracie 5K Run & 2K Walk, which will be held April 14 at Geller Park. The proceeds will benefit the Gracie D. Dudgeon Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The outpouring of support for the Dudgeon family was immediate. Gracie's parents Jennifer and Michael already have funded their initial goal of awarding a $1,000 scholarship for each of the next eight years and now would like to raise enough money to annually award it long after Gracie's classmates have finished schooling.

"We started it out in lieu of flowers, and it just kind of spiraled from there," Jennifer Dudgeon said. "My cousin was killed in a car accident about eight years ago, and they have an annual golf outing for him. Each year, they donate their collection to a different organization that means something to them. This year, they chose to donate it to Gracie's scholarship fund."

Participants in the 5K run and 2K walk can register in person from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the park, or they can download an entry form at the event's web site.

Jennifer Dudgeon said Gracie recently picked up rock hunting, so painted rocks will be along the course for participants to find and return for prizes.

A number of local businesses, including Michael Dudgeon's employer Park National Bank, have donated money and items for raffle, and Jennifer Dudgeon is making a special raffle basket that will be filled with things from Gracie's favorite hobbies.

"Everybody has told me yes," Culbertson said. "We always say we are not just a team, we are family."

Gracie Dudgeon will miss out on so much, but those closest to her are ensuring she will continue to impact the lives of her family and friends.

"Of course, we had dreams for her," Jennifer Dudgeon said. "She recently said she wanted to be a vet when she got older. We had already started saving for her college and had high hopes for her to become something amazing. Cheerleading was her passion, and she always helped the other girls that kind of fell behind. To be able to give back to one of them means a lot for my husband and I."

ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8556

Twitter: @newarkurt

On the web

For more on the 5K, go to www.llg-livelikegracie5krun2kwalk.com