“One of my favorite things about Sue was that I could tell her anything – she was that kind of friend.”Nine years ago the WCA was approached by Leslie, Teresa, and Marj, three women looking to honor the memory of their friend and sister, Susan B. Newby. Since then, over 1,000 individuals from the Boise area have participated in our SueB 5K, bringing in more than $100,000 for the WCA’s Endowment.
I have had the honor and privilege of working closely with these three women to put on our SueB 5K – a race that has expanded to a certified 10K this year. As I listen to friends and family talk about Sue, I see her characteristics echoed in the women in my life. “She had a good strong laugh and found lots of reasons to find humor in life’s events.” friend Jerri Mizrahi shared. Sue was an Hewlett Packard IT systems engineer and lived in Meridian, Idaho. She was intelligent, strong, vibrant and compassionate. Teresa describes her as someone who “was always her genuine self.”
In a city where 5K 10K’s are a dime a dozen: Why this race? Your involvement helps support programs to protect the SueB’s in your life. Sue’s older sister, Marj, flies to Idaho from her home in Arizona each year to award top runners their medals. She implores, “Don’t wait until your sister, daughter or mother is a victim of domestic abuse or sexual assault. Step forward now and make an investment in the WCA to raise awareness about domestic violence.”
This month we hope your compassion extends to the WCA in a unique way. Help us raise awareness surrounding the prevalence of domestic abuse in our community, celebrate healthy relationships, and honor the memory of SueB. Register for just $20 until 11:59 p.m. on June 14, or join us as a volunteer.
“One of my favorite things about Sue was that I could tell her anything, she was that kind of friend.” shared Leslie, dear friend of SueB and race co-founder.
The Compassion Project is a monthly column by Emily Fascilla, Philantropy Specialist for the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. 
