LAPS — Walkers took laps around the athletic track at Brooke Memorial Stadium to raise money to help people battling cancer in an event organized by Brooke High School student Lorelei Costlow for her senior honors project. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — A desire to honor her late mother, and memories of a walk held to support the battle against cancer, led a Brooke High School student to organize her own walk, dubbed Stride for Cancer, on Saturday.

Many area residents turned out to take laps around the athletic track at Brooke Memorial Stadium to support the effort launched by Lorelei Costlow of Weirton.

She is one of the school’s honors students charged with completing a community service project for their senior year.

Costlow said she recalled attending the American Cancer Relay for Life, a yearly fundraiser held by the organization to raise funds for cancer research, education and patient services, and was inspired to hold a similar event.

But her inspiration goes further than that, as she held the walk in memory of her mother, Dr. Stacy Davis, who died in 2012 following a battle with breast cancer.

A veterinarian who practiced at the Carrollton Animal Hospital, Davis also was an active supporter of 4-H clubs in the Bergholz area, where she lived, and inspired the Stacy’s Pink Posse team that participated in several Jefferson County Relays for Life.

Costlow confirmed she was just a little girl at the time of her mother’s death, but it led her to be sympathetic to cancer patients and their families.

She encouraged participants to form teams for her own walk, and a number did, donning matching T-shirts for the occasion. She noted the Brooke High School Key Club and girls basketball team were among groups from the school forming teams.

Aiding Costlow with the walk were fellow members of the school’s chapter of Future Business Leaders of America, of which she is president as well as being treasurer for the statewide organization.

Costlow said Saturday morning at least $1,000 had been raised.

Plans call for the proceeds to go to Cancer Bridges, a Pittsburgh area program that provides help to cancer patients and family members in dealing with the emotional impact of the disease; and possibly to other cancer-related organizations.