Participants in this weekend’s 5K will celebrate Alexis Thompson’s life as well as help give back to children in the community.

The second annual Alexis Thompson Memorial 10K/5K will take place Saturday at 8 a.m. Individuals or two-person teams can participate in the run/walk beginning at the Winchester First Church of God at 2500 Colby Road.

For the relay, each participant will complete a 5K (3.1 miles).  Walkers are welcomed for both the individual 10K and two-person relay.

The event honors Alexis’s spirit of giving and selflessness, her father Whitney Thompson said. Alexis passed away after a car accident in 2016, he said.

“(Alexis) loved serving locally,” Thompson said.

Thompson said Alexis volunteered to help at Jesus Prom, mentored while in high school at GRC, helped special needs children and served at the Catholic center.

“She was just a servant type of heart,” he said. “She was more comfortable with kids, and that’s how we focused everything towards kids.”

The proceeds go back to the community to help local children receive the resources they need including food at home through the backpack program, clothing and other necessities, he said.

Last year, the race raised more than $14,000 in Alexis’ memory.

“Everything we do is for children in the community,” Thompson said.

Thompson said the memorial fund has also been able to aid families whose children need speech/language therapy but are unable to afford it.

Thompson said the funds are meant to help meet needs in the community as well as help children have fun.

Other funds have also assisted in multiple community programs involving local children such as the pregnancy resource center, sending kids to camp and more.

“Anywhere there’s a need for kids, we will try to help if we can,” Thompson said.

Thompson said he is grateful for the support from the community and the local sponsors.

“We helped a tremendous amount of people last year, and we just want to keep that going,” he said.