Alumni Community to Rally Around Family and Local University as Annual Tradition
Costa Mesa, CA (PRWEB) January 07, 2015 -- Vanguard University has announced its Homecoming Weekend events, including a 5K Fun Run/Walk benefitting an alumni family with a powerful story of strength and survival. The Homecoming events will take place on Vanguard’s Costa Mesa campus on January 28-31, 2015, with the 5K Fun Run/Walk to be held on Saturday, January 31, which is open to the public.
“From the beginning, we wanted Homecoming to bring our alumni and expanded community together to reconnect, celebrate, and impact others. We decided to offer a 5K Fun Run/Walk to benefit one alumni family, with all proceeds going toward their cause,” said Joel Gackle, director of alumni and university relations. “Three years ago we held our first annual 5K Run for Mercy – named after an alumni couples’ young daughter Mercy. It was great to see community members who had never been to Vanguard, but wanted to help others.”
This spring, the 5K Fun Run/Walk will benefit the Brock Family, who are overcoming huge obstacles. Jon ’04 and Laura (Ely ’04) Brock, met at Vanguard while they were students, married shortly after graduating in 2004, and had two children. This past year Laura fought a difficult lung disease known as Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, leading to a double lung and heart transplant. Following the transplant Laura’s body could simply fight no more. Her story can be found on the family’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BreathingforLaura.
The university’s office of alumni relations is taking action to celebrate Laura’s great legacy with the 5K and rally around the Brock family, alongside the Orange County community, alumni, family and friends.
“At Vanguard, we pride ourselves on a strong sense of community,” said Gackle.
To get involved by participating or volunteering in the 5K Fun Run/Walk at Vanguard University, or contributing to the cause, visit https://connect.vanguard.edu/event/5k. To see a full list of Vanguard University’s Homecoming Week of events, visit http://www.vanguard.edu/alumni/homecoming-2015/.
About Vanguard University
Vanguard University (VU) is a regionally ranked, private, Christian university of liberal arts and professional studies. Located ten minutes from Newport Beach and an hour from Los Angeles, Vanguard equips students for a Spirit-empowered life of Christ-focused leadership and service. Vanguard is committed to academic excellence, boasting small class sizes that are designed to cultivate lasting professor-mentor relationships that enhance the learning process. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Vanguard a top 12 regional college in the west and a top veteran-friendly college for 2015, and The Princeton Review ranked Vanguard a 2014 "Best in the West" regional college. Accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, Vanguard offers more than 30 degrees and certificates through its undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies programs. Please visit http://www.vanguard.edu
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Erin Hales, Director of Marketing & Communications, Vanguard University, http://www.vanguard.edu/, +1 714.966.5452, [email protected]
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