“Something good can still come out of such a bad tragedy.” Remembering the life of Tyler Smith.

ROCHELLE, Ill (WTVO) — Remembering the life of Tyler Smith through running, 7 years after his death.

Sunday was the annual Tyler Smith 5K, a part of the Tyler “Smitty” Smith fund that his parents started a year after his death.

“Tyler was an avid runner,” explained Sandy Halsne, Tyler’s mom. “He would do Tough Mudder, he would do a lot of 5K, 10K races, and he really just enjoyed it. We thought what a great way to bring a lot of people together in a one-day event, and it represents Tyler as well.”

Tyler would be found dead in Galesburg, Ill, on September 15th, 2018, in Cedar Fork Creek, a concrete canal that runs through the city. Galesburg Police would originally rule his death as accidental, but in July of 2020 Tyler’s body would be exhumed, and a second autopsy would be performed. With the Illinois State Police still having an open investigation into his death.

This is now the 7th annual 5K in Tyler Smiths honor, with all the money raised from the 5K and subsequent afterparty going back into the community.

“We wanted to start something in Tyler’s memory,” stated Halsne so we started that memorial fund, and then to get that memorial account going, we decided let’s have a 5k event, lets, you know have an after part after the 5k and all the money that’s raised just goes right into that endowment fund and we’ve just kept it going.”

The event is also a way to help the family get through the toughest week of their lives, while trying to bring a bit of hope to the community also.

“It’s a fight to bring justice to Tyler, but we also want to turn that tragedy into some kind of hope,” said Halsne. “That’s what this race does for us, it gives us hope. It gives the community hope that something good can still come out of such a bad tragedy.”

On top of bringing family and friends together from different areas. Sharing stories and reminiscing on Tyler’s life, something that was a necessity for those in his circle.

“Every time he would come back to town, this would happen right here, everyone would get together,” explained Peter Alfano, a friend of Tyler’s. “It’s so fitting that now, naturally, even after he passed that we are all still getting together for him.”