Local group hosting 20-hour run, walk memorial in memory of 20-year-old Blackfoot woman

BLACKFOOT — After a 20-year-old Blackfoot female precocious died unexpectedly, a section group decided to big an arena successful representation of her and to show support to those who person mislaid a loved 1 successful early adulthood.

Abigail Thornley, 20, was killed successful a two-vehicle crash connected July 27, 2024. Her father, John Thornley, told EastIdahoNews.com she was headed to activity astatine La Beau’s successful Garden City, Utah, erstwhile nan calamity happened.

Abigail’s family describes her arsenic a “genuine bundle of joy” and personification who had a passion for theatre and singing.

RELATED: Blackfoot female who died successful clang complete nan play has been identified

“She had an adventurous, imaginative psyche and a benignant spirit. She had a singing sound that was meant to beryllium heard. She had nan expertise to return each of her amazing, nosy loving traits, and expose it to each arsenic she would perform,” John explained. “She was happy and wanted everyone other to beryllium happy. She loved to laughter and to make others stock nan laughter.”

Jeff Fullmer, an Ammon City councilman and laminitis of nan Idaho Falls Trail Runners — a moving group which John is portion of –, said aft Abigail’s death, members of nan group asked Fullmer really they could thief nan Thornley family.

“We wanted to do thing that was meaningful for him and for his family,” Fullmer said. “And nan secondary portion of that was realizing that everybody knows personification that has died successful early adulthood that has conscionable turned 18 aliases adjacent to turning 18 (and) conscionable starting retired their life and they person thing tragic happen.”

Abigail Thornley performing connected stage. | Courtesy Thornley family

The Idaho Falls Trail Runners, which is successful nan process of being turned into a nonprofit organization, is putting connected a fundraiser called “Circles of Love.” The tally and locomotion memorial arena will beryllium held Sept. 13 opening astatine 7 p.m. until 3 p.m. connected Sept. 14. It will return spot astatine Jensen Grove Park, located astatine 733-793 East Airport Road successful Blackfoot.

The arena runs for 20 hours to correspond nan 20 years of life that Abigail lived. The region is 1.8 miles per thigh astir Jensen Grove Lake to correspond those who person died successful early adulthood adjacent nan property of 18.

“People tin travel do nan afloat 20 hours. We person astir 5 aliases six group committed to attempting that, (but) anybody tin travel astatine anytime,” Fullmer explained. “We person immoderate group signed up to travel successful nan mediate of nan nighttime to commencement theirs. We person others wanting to beryllium location astatine nan opening to tally aliases locomotion for a mates hours.”

R&D Wholesale Nursery successful Idaho Falls sold a character to nan group astatine costs and a family covered nan disbursal of it. The character will beryllium planted astatine nan parkland during nan arena successful representation of Abigail. Fullmer expressed his gratitude for nan metropolis of Blackfoot successful helping make nan arena imaginable and allowing nan character beryllium planted.

Food and drinks will beryllium available. The arena is free but donations are welcome. The donations received will spell to money nan event, and nan remaining amount, per nan Thornley’s request, will beryllium fixed to nan Blackfoot High School Drama Department.

“Blackfoot High School Drama was a immense portion of her life (and) our families life. Having leaders for illustration Sharron Hoge, Chris Dunbar and Jacob Spjute (and) truthful galore more, helped mold Abigail’s dreams into reality,” John stated. “People person been truthful selfless and generous, it conscionable didn’t consciousness correct to fto group support giving to us. So we thought, what amended spot to use than nan spot that helped bring truthful overmuch euphony and joyousness into our home.”

Fullmer hopes this arena will bring nan organization together and supply treatment to those suffering nan nonaccomplishment of a loved one.

“Not everyone knows Abby, but I deliberation everybody knows personification who has passed connected successful early adulthood,” Fullmer mentioned. “Everyone tin link pinch loss.”

To motion up for nan event, unpaid astatine it aliases make a monetary donation, click here aliases sojourn nan event’s Facebook page.

Abigail Thornley is hugging Sharron Hoge, who was nan Blackfoot High School play coach and put connected organization and precocious schoolhouse plays.| Courtesy Thornley family