I Love LK Memorial Fund breaks $100K in donations

The legacy of 4-year-old Lila Kate McAlister lives on through the I Love LK Memorial Fund, which has passed the $100,000 mark in donations since its conception in 2015.

McAlister died three years ago, succumbing to respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, due to being born with Down syndrome and other heart and lung complications, but the family strives to keep her name alive through her memorial fund.

The fourth annual I Love LK 5K will be held Saturday at Lake Catherine State Park, and every registration helps the fund reach its benchmark. Skip McAlister, Lila Kate McAlister’s father, said creating the fund shortly after her death helped the family cope with its terrible loss.

“As horrible as losing her was … we felt like there must be good that can come from her life. We want to help give back to nonprofit organizations focused on helping children, whether they are special needs or abused,” Skip McAlister said.

He said the family oriented event is more than just a run and will include a cookout and a disc jockey playing music.

“It’s my favorite day of the year and this year we’ve added a St. Patrick’s Day flavor to the event,” he said.

A special part of the event is Lila’s Mile, a 100-yard walk that allows children

with disabilities to participate before the 5K race begins.

“The crowd cheers them on and the special needs kids hold a big banner with Lila’s photo and each kid receives a plaque,” Skip McAlister said.

The fund’s hashtag #LoveLikeLila, is appropriately fitting as she would “be in her element” and hugging everyone she could if she was able to attend the event, her father said.

“She taught me more about unconditional love in her 4 and a half years than anyone has, ” he said.

Last year’s event raised $32,000 and this year the fund will continue to reward the overall male and female winners in the race with the ability to select a nonprofit or charity who will receive a portion of the donations.

The race is set to begin at 9 a.m. and registration for runners and walkers is $20.

Registration closes on Friday and for more information visit http://runsignup.com/Race and enter “I Love LK” in the search box.