Dash for Dylan
PRSSA holds 5k race in memory of Dylan Engel
Liberty’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) will hold a “Dash For Dylan” 5k race on May 4 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Percival’s Island Park.
COLORFUL — The 5k Dash for Dylan logo was designed by Miranda Peege to highlight Engel’s personality and spirit. Photo provided
The race will allow students and members of the Lynchburg community to commemorate the life of Liberty student Dylan Engel as it raises funds to support his family through its loss.
Engel, who was an active member of Liberty’s PRSSA, died during a hiking accident Wednesday, March 9 after falling nearly 75 feet off a trail at Apple Orchard Falls, according to reports
from WSET.
Liberty’s PRSSA Vice President Nichole Acosta recounted memories shared with Engel, as well as his charismatic yet humble nature that attracted many of his abiding relationships.
“Dylan was that guy that would go out of his way to talk to you, to find out how you were doing even if he was going through his own stuff,” Acosta said.
“He would always want to know more about you. He was able to connect with people from completely different circles of life. He just had that type of personality that you wanted to be around, that drew you in to him.”
According to Acosta, PRSSA wanted “Dash for Dylan” to represent Engel’s vibrant personality and thought of no better way than to make the race a 5k color run that would memorialize his spirit.
“We wanted to do something that would celebrate his life because Dylan was just so fun and had such a colorful personality,” Acosta said.
“He led a life of joy, so we wanted something that would instill joy and be something that would allow us and others that knew him a way to let go. We all agreed that Dylan wouldn’t have wanted to be mourned but instead, celebrated, and we felt a color run would capture that perfectly.”
Acosta explained that despite the heartache of losing a beloved friend and classmate, Engel’s life and death continues to teach valuable lessons about impacting the lives of others.
“His death is a good reminder of how fragile life is,” Acosta said.
“It’s a reminder of how good God is even in the midst of something so tragic and knowing that He has turned it into something good that still impacts people. Dylan’s life left such a good fruit behind. …We hope to pursue what he taught us which is to ‘Make Everybody Feel Like a Somebody,’ to not take people around us for granted. He taught us to be intentional in all that we do and the relationships that we build with the people around us.”
Engel’s lesson of intentionality has been the self-proclaimed focus of PRSSA’s social media campaign.
Through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, the society has incorporated ways for students and friends to donate money toward funeral costs to support Engel’s family. PRSSA hopes to raise $3,000 of the $8,000 goal through its #5Dollars4Dylan campaign as well as through merchandise and the event’s ticket sales.
According to PRSSA’s social media, various items such as T-shirts, bracelets and kindness cards with Engel’s self-designed bearded logo and phrase can be purchased at the PRSSA table outside of the Jerry Falwell Library every Friday following Convocation until the end of the semester.
Tickets for the event can be purchased through Engel’s gofundme page www.gofundme.com/4ytjggzg
Those interested in purchasing tickets can donate $15, comment “DashForDylan” along with an email address and bring the email confirmation to the race to receive a running number.
More information is on the “Dash For Dylan” Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
Elliott is a feature reporter.