Elisa Hughey Run for the Arts 2023
Elisa Hughey Run for the Arts 2023
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Photo / Elisa B. Hughey Scholarship for the Arts
It may be virtual, but that doesn’t mean it is less impactful. Elisa’s Run for the Arts is celebrating its 7th anniversary since the passing of its namesake, Elisa B. Hughey, who lost her valiant battle with colon cancer in June 2016 at the age of 48.
Elisa, wife of Inigo de Orbe and mother of two sons, Adrian and Ignacio, loved the arts. She received a Master’s in Art Education from Buffalo State University and a Master’s in Fine Arts from the University of Buffalo. After diagnosis, Elisa found that her love of art was not enough to take her mind off of her battle, so she began running for health and for sanity. Amazingly, in 2013, post diagnosis, Elisa won her first ever marathon for her age group at the Buffalo Marathon. In 2014, she again thumbed her nose at cancer, continued running and finished the Boston Marathon in just under four hours.
How Run for the Arts began: The weekend following her death, friends gathered for an impromptu 5K run to toast Elisa and honor her. It was here where her friends, Gwen Bush and Elizabeth Lowes, suggested a run be held annually as a fundraising event for art scholarships for a local student, in Elisa’s memory. And thus, was born The Elisa B. Hughey Scholarship for the Arts, under the guidance of her sister, Brenda Hughey. As with so many events like this, since COVID, the “run” has been virtual.
Here’s how it works, as posted on Brenda Hughey’s FB page: “How to participate VIRTUALLY: Plan a 5k run, walk or other activity of your choice for Saturday, June 17th. Take a photo of yourself doing the activity, your route or whatever you’d like. Pets are encouraged to participate. Post your photo to Elisa B. Hughey Scholarship for the Arts on Facebook or email Brenda Hughey at hugheyb1@gmail.com. Thanks for your participation and honoring our beloved Elisa together.”
So, bottom line: Gather up some friends, do fun things and remember Elisa as you do it!
Over the years, the fund has raised over $30,000 – and will continue to sustain the annual art scholarship. This year, the foundation is distributing two $1,000 scholarships, one each for Visual arts students from Ellicottville and West Valley, Elisa’s two “hometowns.” It will also support a summer arts program at the local library and ongoing community arts projects, some of which are “in the works, but not finalized.” Contributions are always appreciated. To make a donation, go to www.elisahugheyscholarship.com.
In a recent conversation with Elisa’s sister, Brenda, she said this: “The pandemic forced us to shift to a virtual version of Elisa’s Run for the Arts, and it’s been a great thing to now have family and friends able to join us from all over to remember Elisa together. We are grateful for our many dedicated supporters and the incredible growth of the Elisa Scholarship Fund over the past few years.”