Hundreds 'lace 'em up for Lexi'

FEEDING HILLS, Mass. (WWLP) - Friends, family and strangers in Feeding Hills, laced up their running shoes in memory of a little girl who lost her battle with cancer.  The race benefited children like Lexi Jagodowski who battle the incurable disease.

There were cheers and tears as hundreds laced up their sneakers for Lexi. The 11 year old lost her courageous battle with leukemia last September.

This June, her friends and fellow students in Agawam started this 5k run/walk to benefit Griffin's Friends.

"It's a charity that helps children and families with cancer and Griffin's Friends, like it helped with Lexi, does thing for families when kids are going through chemo, so it's put to good use," explained race co-chair Laura Wray-Ramos.

"One of the things I remember [Lexi] saying often is, 'someday I'm going to be famous', I wish she was here to enjoy this," recalled Gail Jagodowski.

Here to enjoy it for her, Lexi's parents Gail and Rick and their three children. Old and young, the three hundred runners and walkers came out with a smile as Lexi would have.

"She made a big impression on our community," said friend, Emily Touhey.

13 year old Chad Joyal helped organize the event and told 22News how much misses his friend, "I just kept thinking of her through the race."

"She really loved her classmates and for them to do this for her in her honor is wonderful," said Rick Jagodowski. And her honor will live on: 'Lace 'em up for Lexi' will now be an annual event in Feeding Hills.