Megan Fouch was known for her compassion and strength.

Early Saturday morning, her family, friends and community gathered at Teal Lake Park to prepare for the inaugural Megan Fouch Memorial 5K. The Mexico Area Family YMCA organized the event and all of the proceeds raised will go toward building a memorial garden at the YMCA in Fouch’s honor. 

Megan died in a fatal head-on collision in Audrain County on March 18. She was the wife of Missouri State Highway Patrol Lt. David Fouch and mother of their four children. The Fouchs’ 11-year-old daughter, Mckinley, was in the car as well — she survived, but sustained serious injuries.

Since the accident, David said he and his family have experienced a lot of ups and downs, but they are getting by. 

“We’re staying busy in sports, talking about mom and visiting her every day,” he said. “We know she’s still here with us, looking out over us, and guiding us.”

Before she died, Megan served as the Mexico YMCA’s fitness coordinator.

“She loved the YMCA,” Amanda McSweeney, Megan’s older sister, said. “It was a second home for her and her family, and the YMCA has also experienced the loss of Megan.” 

The race was held in Green Estate Park, a place that was special to her family. David said Megan would often bring their children there to walk and ride bikes. He added that she was a marathon runner who had a passion for fitness and leading others to get out and stay active.

“She was always at the YMCA teaching classes or working out,” David said. “It’s just great to see the turnout and to see everyone come to honor her and continue the legacy that she had.”

There were 367 participants who signed up for Saturday’s 5K. Among them was Megan’s entire family including her husband, children, mother, five siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins.

“We’re all here to support her and her beautiful family,” Michelle Dunlavy, Megan’s mother, said.

Those in Green Estate Park weren’t the only people running in Megan’s honor on Saturday. Dunlavy is a longtime runner from Bentendorf, Iowa. She said during Mexico’s event, a second chapter of the race was being held in their hometown. 

Before the race, Megan’s 9-year-old daughter Marlowe predicted she could run the 5K in 40 minutes. Mckinley said it would probably take her only 30 minutes, but there was something even more important than race times that people needed to remember while running.

“Have fun and think of our mom,” she said.

As the start of the race drew closer, David said that he wanted to thank the Mexico Area Family YMCA for all the work they did putting together the memorial run and his community for all of its support. 

The Mexico YMCA set a fundraising goal of $10,000 and donations to the memorial garden can still be made to the Mexico Area Family YMCA. 

Megan’s memorial garden is still in the early stages of planning, but David said she liked all flowers. Mckinley said if she could pick one flower to put in it for her mother, it would be a hibiscus.