For Nicole

Dozens of people gathered for a common cause at
Richmond’s Byrd Park Sunday. Some talked, smiled
and laughed. Some kicked around a children’s soccer
ball. Others enjoyed the taste of free bagels and orange
juice.

By the look of it, you wouldn’t know that a 5k
was about to take place. However, that’s exactly what
happened. Friends, family and community members
gathered to honor the life of former VCU women’s soccer
player Nicole Megaloudis with the Fourth Annual
Nicole Megaloudis Foundation 5K Run/Walk.

Megaloudis died in February 2004 after being
involved in a single-vehicle accident in Goochland
County, Va., on the way back to school from her
home in Northern Virginia. Megaloudis was slated to
participate in the Summer Olympics in Athens with
Greece’s women’s soccer team. Her father’s Greek
heritage enabled her to be eligible to participate.

Known as a funny and caring person to those
who knew her, Megaloudis had a passion for helping
others. Because of this, her mother, Gayle, set up the
foundation to fulfill the work she thought Nicole to
be passionate about.

“We decided that we wanted to do something to
keep Nicole’s memory alive and continue doing things
that she did, because she was such a humanitarian and
into helping people,” Gayle said.

According to Gayle, Nicole had a passion for wanting to help those in other countries. Because of this, part of the donations
received from the 5k and other events hosted by the foundation is sent to
countries such as Ghana and Haiti for purposes such as funding education.
The other part of the money is set aside for scholarships for high school
students who show leadership abilities and financial need.

“She (Nicole) decided that she wanted to help people . the run is
kind of an extension of that,” said friend and former roommate Melanie
Simonich.

Some that showed up to participate in the 5k didn’t see it as a competition,
but in the spirit of keeping Nicole’s memory alive and helping others
in the process, saw the race as a chance to reflect.

“It’s just great to see everyone out here and just keeping her spirit
alive. It’s a time where everyone she really cared about can get together,”
Simonich said.

“It’s a competitive thing if you want it to be a competitive thing .
if they want to take the three laps to think about what kind of person
their friend was, they can do that, too,” said Stephanie Power, a current
member of the soccer team.

VCU women’s soccer co-head coach Tim Sahaydak agreed the 5k means
more than just running a race.

“It’s extremely important for the VCU soccer program, because I think
it’s traditions like this that help teach the girls things outside of the soccer
field,” Sahaydak said.

On a rainy day, when normally most people might have stayed inside,
the 5k had plenty of attendees. One attendee eventually won, and one
eventually crossed the finish line last. However, on a day meant to
remember Nicole Megaloudis, her mother made sure to point out that
winning wasn’t the focus.

“It’s really more of a reunion than anything else to bring people back
together . we celebrate her on this day.”