After Young Woman Passes Away in a Tragic Mountain Biking Accident, Community Comes Together to Organise 5K Run

Having a community that supports you and the causes you stand for is underrated. With a supportive community comes a feeling of belonging and the confidence that you can rely on people near you. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. In our interconnected world, supporting local communities is a crucial aspect one can’t overlook. And such was a community that came together to remember one of them in an unusual way.

Zoe Clay, a young athlete was once tipped for big things in the future. Unfortunately, fate reared its ugly head, and Clay ended up in a fatal tragedy. The then-23-year-old died doing what she loved most: mountain biking. Now, her community has gathered together to remember and celebrate the life she led.

Who was Zoe Clay?

To her loved ones, Zoe Clay was a curious, bright, loving, and passionate person, always making a massive impact on those around her. “It’s so hard to summarize how much life she packed into 23 years,” said Zoe’s father, Tom Clay. Zoe was genuinely unique. An athlete by heart, she always loved a challenge. In fact, she was seen as someone who would often get bored of things that weren’t too challenging for her.

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Those around Zoe were often struck by her curiosity. In fact, it was the very trait that made her a great student. She was destined for brilliance from day one, entering Wake Forest on a scholarship and showing an inherent ability to play sports with ease. She dipped her toe into sports by running cross country but graduated to track before eventually finding her niche in cycling.

Tragically, Zoe Clay lost her life on October 8 in a mountain biking accident while racing on a bike trail near Bur-Mil Park The loss was sudden and too much for her family to handle. “I text her several times a day about things that I try to tell her,” her father says. “I keep thinking she’s on a trip and she’ll be coming back soon — and I can’t get my brain around the fact that she’s not coming back.” In these tough times, the community and her loved ones have organized a special event in her remembrance to honor and celebrate her life.

The Community Honors Zoe

Since her tragic demise, her friends and family have organized a 5K fun run before bike races this Sunday. However, it was the overwhelming support from the community that helped those hit the hardest by Zoe’s death. In fact, the community is looking forward to the big celebration of Zoe’s life. After the initial activities, participants will walk the dirt trail to Zoe’s Pondside Memorial. Zoe’s loved ones will charge a $20 entry fee for the activities, which they intend to donate to local youth cycling in Zoe’s honor.

It is good to know that the goodness we hold is not gone once we are. It is carried on by people around us and those inspired by us. Zoe left an indelible mark on those around her, and now they will honor her memory in a way that would please her the most.

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