Running for Alex Grant

Family, friends, and frat brothers came out last Saturday for the first annual Alex Grant Memorial 5K Race. The race was held in memory of Alex Grant, A&S '13, who died in March.

As around 100 runners made their way from Linden Lane, down Commonwealth Ave., past the reservoir, back up Beacon St., and along College Road, Grant's parents, Deanna and Ken Grant, sat in the uncharacteristically warm October weather at one of the tables placed outside of Gasson Hall for the event.

"We're so pleased," Ken Grant said as his wife smiled and nodded in agreement.

Their son Alex died seven months ago while visiting a friend at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. His body was found in a creek, and an autopsy revealed the death to be the result of drowning, along with intoxication and hypothermia. He was 19 years old and a sophomore at the time of his death.

Max Hinchcliffe, A&S '13, conceptualized and organized the run. All of the proceeds benefited the Alexander Maxwell Grant Foundation.

"Alex was my best friend at school. I wanted to do something positive for the foundation," Hinchcliffe said.

The Alexander Maxwell Grant Foundation, of which Deanna Grant is the president, Ken Grant is the vice president, and sister Brianna Grant is the secretary, was "established to assist artistically and musically gifted young people from troubled or disadvantaged backgrounds," according to the foundation's mission statement.

"It's focused on setting up scholarships for these young, talented kids from underprivileged backgrounds," Hinchcliffe said.

The foundation's website emphasizes Grant's love of music, featuring video and audio clips of him playing with his band. Grant played the piano and the cello.

Hinchcliffe got the idea for the run from his family, who organizes 5Ks to benefit the foundation they set up in honor of Hinchcliffe's uncle who died as a firefighter in 9/11. Though slightly disappointed that scheduling conflicts forced the run to occur on Columbus Day weekend, thus decreasing turnout, Hinchcliffe was pleased with the $3,000 raised by the event, and the increased awareness of the foundation that resulted from the run. Far more people than the 100 that actually ran donated to the foundation.

Hinchcliffe hopes to make the Alex Grant Memorial 5K Race an annual event.

Hinchcliffe and Grant were both members of the Boston College chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon, a fraternity not officially recognized by the University but consisting of over 50 brothers. Many of the students who participated in the run are members of Sigma Phi Epsilon, or SigEp.

Jack Cooper, A&S '14, a fellow SigEp brother, got men's clothing company Southern Tide to sponsor the event.

"I didn't know Alex that well, he passed shortly after I joined [the fraternity], but I wanted to help out," Cooper said.

Southern Tide donated hats, shirts, lanyards, and other products to the event, which were placed on a table near the finish line for participants to choose from.

As runner after runner finished the race, the participants refueled at the food table, hung out with their friends, and mingled with Grant's parents under the bright cloudless sky which seemed to light the surroundings in a way reminiscent of the Jesuit motto, which is referred to in the Alexander Maxwell Grant Foundation mission statement: "The AMG Foundation seeks to operate in a manner that furthers the deep philosophy and spirit of this dearly beloved young man who took seriously his Boston College motto, ‘Light the World.'"