UVA Students Encouraging Community to Run “Every Yard for Yeardley” – Fundraising effort at Saturday’s SunTrust Richmond Marathon event to benefit the One Love Foundation, created by the family of Yeardley Love

RICHMOND, Va. – A fundraiser to honor University of Virginia lacrosse player Yeardley Love will take place on Saturday, November 13th in Richmond. Some of Love’s close friends are organizing “Every Yard for Yeardley” to honor her life and raise money for the One Love Foundation in honor of Yeardley Love. The foundation was created by Love’s family in the wake of her death. Love died in May 2010 as a result of domestic violence in Charlottesville, Va.

The fundraiser encourages Love’s family, friends, and supporters to run or walk “Every Yard for Yeardley” in that day’s SunTrust Richmond Marathon, McDonald’s Half Marathon or HCA Virginia 8K. All proceeds from the team fundraising efforts will benefit the One Love Foundation.

One Love Foundation’s driving goal is to encourage and develop in children and young adults, particularly student-athletes, four qualities of character that Yeardley exemplified: service, kindness, humility and sportsmanship.

“I'm so impressed with the response,” said Lane Holby, one of the organizers of the Every Yard for Yeardley fundraiser. “The immediate support has been pretty remarkable.”

According to Love’s closest friends, the race in Richmond was a perfect fit for a fundraiser for Yeardley Love because she was an amazing athlete and a fun-loving person.

“Our efforts will hopefully raise awareness for an important social issue, but, first and foremost, we want to honor Yeardley’s life and give back to the community that she loved so much,” said Holby.

To make a donation, please visit www.active.com/donate/everyyardforyeardley. The Charles T. Bauer Foundation will be matching all donations to the One Love Foundation, up to a total of $500,000.

If you are interested in running in honor of Yeardley, contact Lane Holby by e-mailing lane.holby@gmail.com or join the Every Yard for Yeardley group on Facebook.

Online registration is available for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, McDonald’s Half Marathon and HCA Virginia 8k at www.richmondmarathon.org. There is a $10 price increase for both the marathon and half marathon and a $5 price increase for the 8k on October 1.

For more information, visit www.richmondmarathon.org or call (804) 285-9495.