Twelfth Annual Ali’s Run Raises More than $8,400 for Bone Marrow Drive
On April 9, the William & Mary Law School Bone Marrow Drive held the 12th annual Ali’s Run. One hundred and thirty-four people registered for the 5K race, which started and ended at Bicentennial Park. The event raised more than $8,400 for the national Be the Match program, an increase of nearly $1,000 more than the previous year.
The Saturday morning of the event was sunny, but brisk, and saw students, faculty, staff, friends, and members of the William & Mary and Williamsburg communities get up, not for an early morning of work, but to support the run. Students created and continue the annual race to honor the memory of Ali Kaplan, daughter of William & Mary’s own Associate Dean and Professor of the Practice Robert Kaplan.
Ali passed away at the age of 12 from aplastic anemia, a rare bone marrow disease. Every year, more than 30,000 people are diagnosed with potentially fatal diseases for which a bone marrow transplant could be the only cure.
Dean Kaplan spoke to the crowd before the race, saying he appreciated and was moved by the effort, participation, and genuine warmth of all who attended.
As in 2015, Mitch Stith J.D. ’17 came in first place as the top male runner. The fastest female runner was Kendall Kemelek J.D.’16.
Dean Kaplan’s grandchildren, too, crossed the finish line in a valiant showing of their own.
This year, the Bone Marrow Drive contributed more than $12,000 to help match donors and recipients, support patients and caregivers, and conduct research. The drive also registered 46 new bone marrow donors during Drive Day.
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Thomas Jefferson founded William & Mary Law School in 1779 to train leaders for the new nation. Now in its third century, America's oldest law school continues its historic mission of educating citizen lawyers who are prepared both to lead and to serve.