22 | JULY 25 • 2024 
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he sun shone brightly, the positive 
vibes buzzed, and more than 450 
people turned out for the 
inaugural In Step with Sam: 
Legacy Run in Ann Arbor 
on June 2. 
Reflecting on the 
event, event co- 
organizer Marie-Adele 
Kress said, “Sunday 
can best be summed 
up in one word: Wow.” 
The day was planned 
meticulously and executed 
perfectly in the tremendous spirit 
of the late Samantha Woll.

The logo for the event was co-created 
by Eva and Philip Schneider and incorpo-
rated Sam’s art. 
Participants in the event had the 
opportunity to choose between 
multiple run/walk routes. 
One option was a 5K “Sam’s 
Tree” path that led from 
Burns Park to the Nichols 
Arboretum, where a tree 
was dedicated in Sam’s mem-
ory by her and her sister’s 
friends from their studies at the 
University of Michigan. 
A second option was a 2-mile 
Michigan Memory Run that ran past 

some of Sam’s favorite Ann Arbor plac-
es, including East Quad where she lived 
during her undergraduate studies at the 
University of Michigan and Michigan 
Hillel where Sam welcomed many 
Shabbats. 
A third option was the 1-mile “In Her 
Shoes” course, honoring Sam’s commit-
ment to running a mile every single day, 
no matter the mood or weather.
“We are truly stunned by the outpour-
ing of love and support,” said Dr. Doug 
Woll to the hundreds of participants gath-
ered. 
He added, “We believe firmly that Sam 
is looking on us from above and is hum-

First annual Legacy Run in Samantha Woll’s honor raised more than $9K.
In Step with Sam

continued on page 24

YEVGENIYA GAZMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER / PHOTOGRAPHY BY GRACE HAN

OUR COMMUNITY

Ben Rosen, Monica Woll Rosen and Drs. Margo and Doug Woll

