George Mason HS Grad Receives Warm Welcome In Falls Church On 105-Mile Run

FALLS CHURCH, VA — A George Mason High School graduate passed through the City of Falls Church in the rain Tuesday morning on her way to completing a 105-mile run from Louisa County in Virginia to Washington, D.C.

Kate Fletcher, a 1992 graduate of the city's high school, ran the long distance to raise money for student scholarships in Louisa County, where she is a high school English teacher. Since 2016, Fletcher and her colleagues have come up with ways to raise money for student scholarships as part of the Lion Pride Run project.

In Falls Church, students from Meridian High School, including members of the track and cross-country teams, joined Fletcher as she made her way through the city on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail.

Fletcher began the 105-mile run Monday morning at Louisa County High School, with support from students, faculty and staff.

Along with raising money for student scholarships, the Lion Pride Run, named after her high school’s mascot, signifies “the importance of overcoming obstacles through the examination of inner strength.”

“Our main goal is to fund scholarships for students who have not had it easy, students who have struggled and refused to give up, despite the obstacles in their path,” reads the GoFundMe page created to raise money for the Lion Pride Run.

In her mid-30s, Fletcher took up running, starting with the 5K and 10K distances and eventually working her way up to marathons. The Lion Pride Run was a way to combine her passion for running with her desire to help students in Louisa County pursue their dreams.

Since 2016, Fletcher and her colleagues have raised more than $70,000 through the Lion Pride Run, which has helped more than 25 seniors from Louisa County go to college. Fletcher is hoping to raise $50,000 from this year's run to D.C.

In 2020, Fletcher ran 52 miles from Louisa County to Richmond. This year's fundraiser was the longest distance run yet.

With the rain still falling, Fletcher completed her 105-mile run early Tuesday afternoon, raising her arms triumphantly on the National Mall.

"I was inspired to start The Lion Pride Run by my students’ remarkable strengths, as well as their many unmet needs," Fletcher said. "In my classes, year after year, I see committed, hard-working, resilient students, who have overcome difficult obstacles in their lives and endured for the long haul, yet they are not always able to afford the opportunities they have earned."

Visit the Lion Pride Run fundraising website to donate money in honor of Fletcher's dedication to running and helping students in Louisa County attend college.