For Brenda
WEST LAFAYETTE – Brenda “Buck” Hoffman lost her life as a result of injuries sustained during an accident this past April while doing what she loved best, training for a triathlon. Hoffman was riding a bicycle with fellow triathlon enthusiast, Brad Hollingsworth, on another bicycle when the pair was struck by a vehicle.
Saturday morning, Aug. 1, in West Lafayette, more than 200 runners and walkers came to Burt Park in West Lafayette to honor her memory and help raise funds for a scholarship that will be given to a student at Ridgewood High School.
The Ghost bike was prominently displayed and is a bicycle that has been painted all white to silently honor those that have been killed or injured while riding on our streets.
Several participants worked with Hoffman or went to high school with her. Some were both like West Lafayette native Brooke Smith while Lisa Lynn knew her from Genesis. Lynn said, “I knew Brenda through my sister who went to college with her and then through the years at Genesis. I worked with her and recently was her manager. I think this is great, Brenda loved outdoor activities, she loved to run, that’s one of my passions too, and we talked a lot about it outside of work. She helped me train for a Triathlon and I just want to be here to support her and her family and do what she loved.”
Smith said, “I went to high school with Brenda and played basketball with her and ran cross country with her so I think maybe part of this route may take me back to my old cross country days. I also worked on projects at work with Brenda as well. I just wanted to come back and support the community and honor Brenda in this great event.”
Hollingsworth, who spoke prior to the event, thanked everyone for coming and supporting the memory of Brenda.
Shelly Brady, who got the ball rolling for the event and was joined by Amy Stonebraker, Shannon Haines and Tish Hoffman, said, “It’s just overwhelming, the amount of people that came out to support this. When we learned of the accident we wanted to do something to give back to the family and we thought this way we could set up a scholarship fund.”
Stonebraker said, “I’m just amazed at how many people have come out to show their support. I grew up with Brenda and was a few years older than her and was a cross country helper and rooted her on all the way.”
Brady said she wanted to thank the following organizations for helping, “Pearl Valley Cheese, Advanced Spinal Care & Rehab, American Health Centers, Amici’s Pizza, Kids America, Ridgewood FFA and the West Lafayette Fire Department and Police for traffic and leading the run.”
A tearful Nancy Hoffman, Brenda’s mom, said about the turnout, “This is hard. It’s so bittersweet. I am so glad everybody showed up to honor her. She would have loved it. And she’s here with us right now. I feel her presence.”
She said of the organizers, “They did a great job. I want to thank them so much. We’re going to try and do this every year to give a scholarship to a student at Ridgewood High School. We just want to help someone out and she would have wanted us to do that.”
The Brenda Hoffman Memorial Scholarship Fund is established at The Home Loan Savings Bank.
mark@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
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