All the data they had on their phones for the month has been used in a matter of days. Their Internet histories are filled with venues and possible places to hold the event. From hours spent staring at the same computer screen and days spent talking to person after person saying the same thing over and over again, senior Andrew Shannon and sophomore Blake Coonrod have been working since last semester to put together a memorable 5K race. Andrew and Blake decided to organize a run to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association as a personal project this year.

“It all started with us knowing we wanted to raise money for a charity but we didn’t know which one,” Blake said. “We looked into the Make-A-Wish Foundation and some others, but we found a local Alzheimer’s Association we really wanted to work with.”

The project was done completely by Andrew and Blake.For this specific project, Andrew and Blake had to leave the comfort they know at FHN and do business in the real world. These activities included calling parks,finding sponsors and interacting with adults more than they would on a daily basis.

‘’I was kind of worried that no one would take us seriously,” Blake said. “But It’s such a good cause so everyone was supportive and respected us as adults.”

Some of the skills Andrew and Blake now have from doing this project are not skills that either of them use on a daily basis such as making QR codes and building their own website. This project has helped Andrew and Blake learn things that they would have not otherwise chosen to learn how to do. After hours of trying to find tutorials on YouTube, Andrew and Blake started working on building the website and QR code.

“We did everything on our own,” Blake said “We made the website, the logo and a QR code. I would have never known how to make these things until now.”

The website Andrew and Blake created is racetorememberstl.com. Interested runners can go to the website to get more information, sign up for the race, and see a live countdown clock until the race. Andrew and Blake have also created Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google+ accounts to advertise the event. After this race is held, Andrew and Blake hope that it becomes a tradition in the community.

“I think it would be really cool if the race became an annual thing,” Andrew said. “I would feel really good that Blake and I could help make that happen.”

This project has required Andrew and Blake to get to get to know a lot of different people and overcome adversity.

“This would be perfect for scholarship essays because there is a lot of perseverance required for this,” Blake said.

“It’s not easy overcoming some of the obstacles that come with trying to do something like this still being in high school.”

The race will be held on June 27 at Lakeside Park in St. Peters. Andrew and Blake hope that the race is recognized by people everywhere and starts a chain reaction to raise money for local charities. The personal publicity isn’t important to either of them; its about making people aware of this disease and its effect on the community.

“I am really happy to have had this experience,” Blake said. “I know this experience is going to help me especially because it’s harder to come by when you are as young as I am.”