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