Kendall community turns out in record numbers at annual memorial walk

Photos by Kristina Gabalski – The annual Grace Lang/Amber Liese Walk Thursday afternoon was well-attended.

KENDALL – Despite threatening skies and a heavy downpour about 45 minutes into the event, students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members came out in record numbers Thursday afternoon for the annual Grace Lang/Amber Liese Memorial Walk at the Kendall High School Track.

The event is sponsored by the Kendall Sr. National Honor Society and benefits the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, Teens Living with Cancer, Kendall Ambulance and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.

Members of Libby Jurs’ family pose together before hitting the track to walk.

This year’s walk was dedicated to Libby Jurs, a beloved former Kendall school nurse, who died of cancer in 2015. The Jurs Family participated in the Walk and said Libby had participated herself in past years.

“She is missed for sure buy a lot of people,” Libby’s husband, John said.  “She touched a lot of people.”

“We appreciate all that has been done for our family by the Kendall Central School District,” Libby’s daughter, Jennifer  said.

A sign alongside the track featured a photograph of Libby.

National Honor Society co-advisor Gretchen Rosales estimated participation this year at more than 100 people, which is more than usual.

“Libby had a huge impact on all of us,” Rosales said.  “Today is a celebration of her life.  We are excited to be able to honor her memory today.”

Kendall Jr./Sr. High School Principal Carol D’Agostino said this year’s school yearbook will be dedicated to Libby during the school’s formal awards ceremony next Friday.

The Walk is named for Grace Lang, the Kendall school nurse who preceded Libby, who died of cancer of 1990, and Amber Liese, a Kendall student who died of cancer in 2010 just months after graduation.

Members of the Kendall Central School faculty, staff and administration pose on the track with the photo of Libby.