MEMORIAL RUN — Participants bolted forward at the start of Saturday’s fourth-annual Suzanne Kresser Memorial 5-K Run and Walk at Jim Wood Park. -- Christopher Dacanay

STEUBENVILLE — A cool yet sunny morning surrounded Saturday’s fourth-annual Suzanne Kresser Memorial 5-K Run and Walk, which drew more than 100 participants.

Taking place in Jim Wood Park, the 5-K saw individuals from all ages snake their way around the Buena Vista Heights neighborhood. Among participants were members of the Steubenville High School and Harding Middle School track teams.

The event is named in honor of the late Suzanne Kresser, a former United Way of Jefferson County executive director, and raises funds to support the 12 local nonprofits that the agency helps finance.

Agencies include A Caring Place Child Advocacy Center, A Child’s Place CASA Ltd., A.L.I.V.E. Inc., the American Red Cross, Family and Community Services RSVP, Family Recovery Center, the Jefferson County Community Action Council, the Ohio Valley Youth Network, the Smithfield Friends Church Food Pantry, St. Joseph WEBA Outreach Food Pantry and Toronto Services Committee.

United Way of Jefferson County Executive Director Laura Rauch thanked those who made the event possible, including the event committee and United Way staff. She also thanked several agencies for coming to tell attendees about their services, the donors of baskets and raffle prizes and the event’s sponsors, many representatives of which participated in the 5-K itself.

The United Way of Jefferson County began its 2025 fundraising campaign on Aug. 29 and is seeking $325,000 in donations to support those agencies.

“I want to thank everyone for coming out on this beautiful day to show support for Suzanne and her family,” Rauch said. “It just means so much.”

An ardent community benefactor, Kresser herself would have wanted to host and event like this, noted Ted Gorman, president of the Jefferson County United Way’s board.

“(Suzanne) did so many things in our community.” Gorman said. “She’d be thankful that we’re putting this on in her memory.”

He said later: “The United Way is proud to host this event every single year. Suzanne was so big into the United Way and giving back to her community. We miss her and her passion, which she gave to everything that she did, to help so many people.”

Gorman thanked the United Way’s board, the 5-K’s volunteers and Kresser’s family, which the United Way has partnered with to host the event.

Present Saturday morning were Frank and Linda Slowikoski. Kresser’s mother, Linda Slowikoski said she’s grateful for the event, noting that uniting individuals to make a difference in the lives of the needy is exactly the kind of action Kresser was passionate about.

“If we all work as a team, we can change our community — make it better — and we can also start changing the world, Slowikowsi said. “And that’s what Suzanne was all about.”

Kresser graduated from Ohio University with a degree in communications and later from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Slowikowski recalled. Kresser would go on to work as a funeral director for about a decade before moving on to sell insurance, while studying to become a financial adviser.

“It just goes to show … you don’t have to be stuck with one career,” Slowikowski said.

Kresser became involved with many volunteer organizations, including the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and 4-H programs, Slowikowski said. Generous to all she encountered, Kresser touched the lives of many people — a fact attested to by the letters of gratitude Slowikowski received following Kresser’s death

After a brief yet difficult bought with glioblastoma — a rare and aggressive form of cancerous brain tumor — Kresser died in 2021 at the age of 51. Slowikowski said she hopes this event can also be a chance to raise awareness of glioblastoma, for which there currently exists no cure.

Kresser’s “baby,” a Yorkshire terrier named Annie, is now lives with the Slowikowskis. Annie, who will turn 13 years old in November, was present for the 5-K.

Kresser was devoted to the community and her family, Slowikowski said, and her family is proud of her. She added that to have other honor her at the 5-K is an honor to the family.

To attendees, Slowikowski said she hopes they take away from the event “kindness, compassion, patience, love and to care about people.”

“You have to take care of other people who don’t have what you have, maybe aren’t as blessed,” Slowikowski said. “And that comes from a mother’s heart. The worst thing I ever did in my lifetime was lose a daughter, and I’m glad you all are here today, honoring her and helping us carry this on and change our community.”

Also present were Kresser’s older sister, Sherri Wilson, and twin sister, Shanley Slike.

Nicknamed “Stan” by Kresser, Slike noted how her twin sister loved youth and youth involvement, so she would have been glad to see the track teams participating in the 5-K.

Slike also recalled Kresser’s struggle with glioblastoma. Having experienced occasional seizures, Kresser was taken by Slike to get examined, which is when she received her diagnosis. Kresser fought through the toughest times with support from family, Slike said, adding that this ought to be a lesson for individuals to monitor their health.

“Anybody that knew Sue, you knew she was a fighter,” Slike said. “She was very passionate about anything she did, and she gave 110 percent to this community.”