ANDOVER — A sea of runners and walkers wearing pink laced up their sneakers Sunday to take part in the 12th annual Step Up For Colleen 5K Walk/Run.
The event kicked off at Andover Central Park with a large crowd decked out in their pink race shirts and racing bibs.
The run/walk celebrated the life of Colleen Ritzer of Andover, a beloved Danvers High School math teacher. She was in her second year of teaching when she was murdered by a student in 2013. Ritzer was 24 years old.
Her friends and family started the event to honor her values and commitment to inspiring others with kindness. Net proceeds from the walk benefit charities such as the Colleen E. Ritzer Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship benefits high school seniors from Andover and Danvers who plan to pursue a degree in education.