Illustration by Ansley Lewis
The Kristine Meza Foundation and the Battered Women and Children’s Shelter collaborate on 5K to honor nursing student.
By Amanda Tetens
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
A 5K event this weekend will raise awareness about domestic violence and honor a young victim who had just been accepted into this college’s nursing program when she died, organizers said.
The Purple Run 5K is from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Wheatley Heights Sports Complex, 200 Noblewood Drive.
The event, which benefits the Kristine Meza Foundation, recruits supporters, offers resources and shines a spotlight on domestic violence, an issue often hidden behind closed doors.
“Nobody wants to talk about it, but it’s OK to talk about it,” said foundation secretary Araceli Elizondo, a friend of the late Meza.
In February 2011, Meza, 25, fell victim to domestic violence and lost her life. She was shot in her driveway by an ex-boyfriend who then killed himself, according to a video posted by her family on the foundation’s website.
Elizondo said it did not take long for family and friends to decide they needed to do something about domestic violence.
“Kristine left us in February, and we got together that September,” Elizondo said of creating the foundation.
Shortly after Meza’s death, the foundation paired up with the Battered Women and Children’s shelter to create the run.
This is the second Purple Run to take place in San Antonio. Incidents of domestic violence have hit an all-time high in the area, according to the foundation’s website.
Meza had just been accepted into this college’s nursing program when she was killed. Currently there is an Alamo Colleges scholarship in her name. The last recipient was a student at this college.
Participants can register for the 5K at www.athleteguild.com or the morning of the race.
For more information, visit www.thekristinemezafoundation.org.
