Organizers and runners prepare for final Joplin Memorial Run

JOPLIN, Mo. (KOAM) - “It's going to be extra special because it's the last one. So we've got to make it the best one.“

After more than a decade, runner's are preparing to take their final strides in the Joplin Memorial Run .

Roughly 2,300 people are signed up to participate in the event, a number the race director says is far higher than in previous years.

She says organizers came to the difficult decision to end the race do to declining participation and cost concerns.

“We're struggling to get volunteers and struggling to cover expenses, and then we have to cut things that we feel are valuable. So we just felt like it's time to go ahead and just have one final event, do a really nice job, go out big and just make it a really good time for everybody in the final year,“ says Ruth Sawkins, race director.

The Memorial Run honors the victims of the 2011 Joplin Tornado. Banners with names of each 161 tragedies are posted along the race route.

Some runners say it is disappointing to lose this opportunity to honor the victim's memories.

"It just kind of feels like, are we going to lose that sense of community by not coming together every year to memorialize all those lives that were lost," says Isaac Reed, a first-time participant in the race.

And while some are sad to see the race go, they say they are using this as an opportunity to find more ways to join the community in remembering the tragedy.

"I'm really sad that we're not going to be able to do it in a race, but there's obviously more opportunities throughout the community that we could be a part of," says race participant Krysten Brown. "I'm sad that it's ending but I'm happy for other ways that we can be a part."

Both runners and organizers say they hope to make this final race a meaningful end to a beloved tradition.

"It means a lot to see the Joplin community still embrace this event and say they want to take it out well," says Sawkins.

The event will end with the 161 banners representing the victims being given to families following all races.

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