Burlison race in Albion unveils medal, announces 10K option for March 21

Wolfpack Multisport unveiled this year’s medal for finishers of the Wayne A. Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness Run/Walk on March 21. The race is named in honor of the late Wayne Burlison, an Albion music teacher who passed away from colon cancer on March 26, 2014.

ALBION – The annual Wayne A. Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness Run/Walk has been a slightly longer 5K in Albion since 2015.

The organizers of the race have announced the event this year on March 21 will also have a 10K option.

Wolfpack Multisport, the race organizer, today also unveiled the medal for finishers of the race. It has a jazz band theme with a trombone.

The race is named in honor of Wayne Burlison, an Albion music teacher who was also active in the marching band. A race has been held in his honor since 2015.

The 3.17-mile race is a little longer than a typical 5K at 3.1 miles. The distance symbolizes the 3 months and 17 days Burlison lived from when he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer until his death at age 36 on March 26, 2014.

He was active in several musical groups in the community and also helped start the Albion Running Club. He lost more than 150 pounds through better nutrition and exercise. The walking trail at Bullard park is named in honor of Burlison and also the late Judy Christopher, who owned Phoenix Fitness and also organized the Albion Strawberry Festival 5K for nearly 20 years.

The Burlison 5K race starts on Clarendon Road near the elementary school. The course goes to Mount Albion Cemetery and then back to the school. For more information on the race and to sign up, click here.