EAST DUBLIN, Ga. — After a teenager died last year in an ATV wreck, people are honoring Wyatt Murphy's memory.
Murphy died last October at just 16-years-old. He was on the football, wrestling and baseball teams at East Laurens High School, and that's where a blood drive and memorial-run are being held in his honor.
If you asked his friends to describe who Murphy was, Tyler Barwick would say this: "Outgoing. Always laughing, making jokes about something, he never had a dull moment."
His friend Daisey Johnson also remembers him that way.
"Happy and positive. And just loving," Johnson said.
His classmate Alyhria Carey said Murphy was her best friend.
"He was very cool, very sweet. Cause I didn't know him from a can of paint but he still, he came up, I felt like I had known him forever," Carey said.
She said Murphy started talking to her in a class one day, and they became very close, very quickly. Since October, she said school hasn't been the same without him.
"Every time he'd hug me and stuff, and talk to me and made jokes and stuff, that made my day because everybody's going through something," Carey said.
Those memories of Murphy will always live on. Johnson is making sure of it.
"I'm thankful for the time that I did get to spend with him, and I got to know that the person that he was, and to me that's made me into a better person," Johnson said.
She's organizing a memorial-run next month, that will go towards the first Wyatt Murphy Memorial Scholarship.
"I'm trying to turn it into something positive, that will continue his legacy that he most definitely did start. He definitely did have an impact on many people's lives," Johnson said.
People can also purchase a $20 t-shirt with this design to honor Murphy.
Barwick said it's a great way to keep sharing Murphy's story with others.
"I think he would've been happy about it. He's, he's always there to help somebody, so I think he would be happy that we're helping him, and doing everything we can to keep his memory alive," Barwick said.
You have two opportunities to honor Murphy in the next couple of months.
On Thursday, Sep. 26, a blood drive's happening at East Laurens High School.
On Saturday Oct. 12, they're hosting the memorial-run at East Laurens High School at 8:30 a.m. It is a one-mile race, with prizes for the top three finishers. All proceeds will go towards a merit-based essay scholarship for one student in Laurens County.
You can sign up for the memorial run, or buy a t-shirt by emailing: wyattmurphymemorial@yahoo.com
If you'd like to make a donation directly towards the scholarship, you can make a check payable to the Wyatt Murphy Memorial Scholarship and mail it to Bank of Dudley in downtown Dublin at 200 W Jackson St, Dublin, GA 31021.
There are also sponsorships available for the race.
Bronze ($100+)
- Business name printed smallest on back of race shirt
- Social media post
Silver ($250+)
- Business name printed medium on back of race shirt
- Social media post
Gold ($400+)
- Business name printed largest on back of race shirt
- Social media post
- Chance to promote at the event
- Choice of either two race registrations or two t-shirts
Platinum ($500+)
- Business logo printed on back of race shirt
- Social media post
- Chance to promote at event
- Choice of either three race registrations or three t-shirts
MORE THAN A NUMBER
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