BAY VILLAGE, Ohio - A yearly charitable, fundraising walk will happen again in Bay Village on Oct. 26 to remember the tragic death of elementary school student Amy Mihaljevic.
The fundraiser will have an extra component this year due to the suggestion by sixth-grade math teacher Mark Kevesdy. He said, “It has been 35 years since Amy was kidnapped at the age of 10. And since 2000 there has been a walk on exactly Oct. 27, the day she was kidnapped from a Bay Village shopping plaza.”
Kevesdy said he suggested adding the 5k run to the annual walk to Amy’s father and brother. Both enthusiastically approved the addition.
“So, it’s the ‘Amy Memorial 5k Run and Walk’ on Saturday, Oct. 26 beginning at 9 a.m.,” said Kevesdy. “I am still waiting on some permits as I would like for Cahoon Park to be the starting point.”
His nephew, he said, runs “his own race company and is in charge of the web site where people can sign up and see all the information. The more word out the better.”
Over the last three years, he noted, more than $7,000 was raised which the Bay police department has been able to tap into. “It is accessible to them,” said Kevesdy, “because there are now more cold cases being solved these days due to advances in DNA and the advances are getting better each year.”
He said he was talking to a lead detective and learned for each hair from a crime scene that goes off for testing it costs $7,000.
Kevesdy said hs nephew will choose the race/walk prizes but the whole event needs sponsors. “Sponsors’ names will be on the t-shirts for the race as well as on posters at the beginning and end of the race/walk. It would be nice for local businesses in Bay and surrounding areas to provide a show of support.”
Importantly, he noted 100% of all that is raised goes to the ‘Amy Fund.’
“No profits at all, Kevesdy said, “all goes to the Amy Fund, and we are shooting to raise $10,000. So, we want to hear from sponsors who, in some capacity, are interested.”
He remarked there are going to be long distance, virtual runners and sponsors too. For more information, here is the link to the website to sign up for the race/walk: https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/BayVillage/AmyMihaljevic
Amy’s memory lives on as her community remains committed to finding justice for her. And for anyone who may have some information call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.