Memorial 5K Saturday for Fort Collins Graduate Who Inspired Tim McGraw

Fort Collins High School graduate, Ben Ellis, lost his battle with cancer on Friday, September 16, 2016. A fundraising 5K to benefit the family is being held on Saturday. While Ben lived and taught in Nashville, he grew up in Fort Collins.  Ben graduated from FCHS in 1984. My wife went to school with Ben and has worked with his father Bob Ellis for two decades at CSU. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their family.

Ben was thrust into the national spotlight when country music superstar, Tim McGraw, posted a video on his Facebook page of Ellis’ students singing to him as he watched from the window of his home near Nashville. Ellis was a Latin and Bible studies teacher at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee

So many of Ben’s friends and family here in Northern Colorado have expressed a desire to honor and celebrate Ben and provide emotional  and financial support to his wife and five beautiful children. Saturday, October 22nd has been set aside as "a day of celebrating Ben's never faltering lead that we are so much more through unconditional love, compassion and forgiveness." This day of celebrating “Be Loving” includes a 5k Fun Walk in the morning and a friends/family celebration of Ben's life in the afternoon.

Details of Ben Ellis  BENefit Walk

Date: Saturday, October 22, 2016

Time: Registration opens at 7:30am, Walk begins at 9:00.

Location: Parkwood Clubhouse (1314 Buttonwood Drive, Fort Collins, CO), PARKING at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church at 2000 S. Lemay Avenue

Race Registration: Donations requested for Ben’s family. Participants will receive a shirt for a donation of $23.00 or more. Additional shirts for registered participants can be purchased for $15 ($23 for all others).

All net proceeds will go toward supporting the financial needs both now and in the future of Ben’s family.

More Info

For more information on sponsoring the race, registration, volunteering or purchasing t-shirts contact contact Louann DeCoursey, 970-372-8126, louann.decoursey@gmail.com or Jennifer Penfold Grogan, 303-888-3020. jengrogan@hotmail.com