200 Run/Walk to Honor Aaron Wilkins

Carol Montague-Davis, Allie Bagley, Lance Smith, Adrienne Smith

On Saturday Nov. 10, more than 200 people came out to Flat Rock Middle School to honor Aaron Wilkins. Wilkins was a teacher and the athletic director at Flat Rock when he died in August after falling from a tree. Two of his former students, Lance Smith and Allie Bagley, who are now freshmen at West Forsyth High School, decided to honor his memory by organizing a race/walk that would also raise money for his family. Wilkins and his wife, Debbie, have four sons.

“We had 186 registered runners/walkers and at least 25 volunteers, so we had over 200 participants in this awesome event!” said Lance’s mother, Adrienne Smith. “It was so heart-warming to see so many people come together to celebrate the life and legacy of Aaron Wilkins. It was an amazing event, filled with amazing people, celebrating one extraordinary human-being!”

Among those who came to show their support were John Davenport, a member of the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Board of Education; Don Martin, the school system’s superintendent, Carol Montague-Davis, the assistant superintendent for secondary schools; Nancy Sutton, the program specialist for physical education and health; and Becky Hodges, the Flat Rock principal.

Cedric Liles

Cedric Liles, a former student who is now a sophomore at West Forsyth, was among the students there. Cedric, who played basketball for Coach Wilkins, remembers how supportive and encouraging he was. “He was like a father figure to some,” Cedric said. “He was a strong man.”

One of Wilkins’ long-time friends, Dave Lamoureux, was there with his wife, Michelle, and their three children. Noting everyone who had come out he said: “It shows how much they truly loved and cherished Aaron. Aaron poured a lot into everything he did and school was part of that.”

About 15 women participating in a program sponsored by Fleet Feet Sports were also there. Lance and Allie spoke to the group earlier in the week, and group members Jane Lyerly and Cheryl Dull said that, although they didn’t know Wilkins, they were so impressed by the students that wanted to support the run/walk.

As of the weekend, the event had raised $2,700. Adrienne Smith expected more to come in. “We are still getting requests for t-shirts and questions about where to send donations,” she said.

Don Martin, Lance Smith