Color Me Cameron 5K Run/Walk set for April 2

The Color Me Cameron 5K Run/Walk will return early next year on April 2 after not being held last year due to COVID.

The event is a fundraiser to benefit the Cameron Fitzwater Memorial Scholarship, provided to students at Pulaski County High School each year.

Cameron’s mother, Terri Fitzwater Palmore addressed Pulaski Town Council at its Tuesday evening legislative session, announcing that this year’s 5K run/walk event will be scheduled for April 2.

Cameron was known as a good student with a big heart. He was involved in cleanup from the tornado that struck the town in April 2011 where he assisted in getting trees out of the road and volunteered with Samaritan’s Purse. He was an active volunteer on many Habitat for Humanity house builds throughout the New River Valley.

He was active in school and extracurricular activities including being an Eagle Scout, captain of his wrestling team at PCHS, captain of the Math MACC Academic Team and participated in the Science and All-Around MACC Academic Teams. He was also involved in track, drama, choir and Young Life. Along with attending PCHS he was a student in the Southwest Virginia Governor’s School.

Cameron was killed in a tragic motor vehicle accident on I-81 in April 2012 on his way to work after school. He was 18 at the time and two months away from graduation.

His plans were to attend West Virginia University.

The Cameron Fitzwater Memorial Scholarship was created to celebrate his memory by allowing his life and dreams to live on by helping others pursue their dreams of higher education.

In 2013, Pulaski Town Council adopted a resolution signifying the first Saturday of every April as Cameron Fitzwater Memorial Day.

According to his mother, the 5K run/walk drew 459 participants in its first year. Two years ago, the event drew 1,451 participants.

Councilman Greg East, who has participated in the event in the past, called it a “great event.”

By MIKE WILLIAMS, The Patriot