Angel Walk unites Fairport community
By: Mark Gruba
Updated: August 4, 2012
Friends and family gathered for the annual Angel Walk along the Erie Canal in Fairport Friday evening.
It was five years ago that Hannah Congdon, Bailey Goodman, Meredith McClure, Sara Monnat and Katie Shirley were killed in a car crash just days after their graduation from Fairport High School. The five became known as the Fairport Angels.
"It's hard to believe it's been five years, sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday and then other days it seems like an eternity since we lost our five beautiful daughters," said Angela Monnat, the mother of Sara Monnat.
The memory of Fairport's Angels was everpresent, once again, at this year's Angel Walk. "It's really about a community doing something together and part of that is what gives me peace," said Mike Goodman, the father of Bailey Goodman.
The Angel Walk was born out of a community's grief. "I really wanted to boost the community up, remember the girls in a positive light and really bring the community together," said Meryl Scheible, who founded the event.
Five years later, the Angel Walk is still a rallying point for friends and family. "I wouldn't call it a so much as a celebration, but really people doing something that makes them feel good," said Goodman.
Each year the walk begins and ends at Kennelley Park in the Village of Fairport. "I think about our five beautiful daughters and I hope they're looking down saying, wow, look at all those people," said Monnat.
Over 200 walkers lined the canal helping raise money for the Joey Fund, established by Fairport High School students to help Fairport families during their time of crisis. "We all thought it was worthwhile because of all of the support that we've got to help us," said Goodman.
To those that knew and loved them, the Fairport Angels are still a source of inspiration. "You try to live your life in the memory of the five girls," said Scheible. "They were all so outgoing, so positive."
For the families, a stroll along the canal is the perfect way to say thank you for all the support. "The Fairport community has just been wonderful to us the last five years, they've really wrapped their arms around us," said Monnat.
Friday's Angel Walk raised over $2,000 for the Joey Fund.
It was five years ago that Hannah Congdon, Bailey Goodman, Meredith McClure, Sara Monnat and Katie Shirley were killed in a car crash just days after their graduation from Fairport High School. The five became known as the Fairport Angels.
"It's hard to believe it's been five years, sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday and then other days it seems like an eternity since we lost our five beautiful daughters," said Angela Monnat, the mother of Sara Monnat.
The memory of Fairport's Angels was everpresent, once again, at this year's Angel Walk. "It's really about a community doing something together and part of that is what gives me peace," said Mike Goodman, the father of Bailey Goodman.
The Angel Walk was born out of a community's grief. "I really wanted to boost the community up, remember the girls in a positive light and really bring the community together," said Meryl Scheible, who founded the event.
Five years later, the Angel Walk is still a rallying point for friends and family. "I wouldn't call it a so much as a celebration, but really people doing something that makes them feel good," said Goodman.
Each year the walk begins and ends at Kennelley Park in the Village of Fairport. "I think about our five beautiful daughters and I hope they're looking down saying, wow, look at all those people," said Monnat.
Over 200 walkers lined the canal helping raise money for the Joey Fund, established by Fairport High School students to help Fairport families during their time of crisis. "We all thought it was worthwhile because of all of the support that we've got to help us," said Goodman.
To those that knew and loved them, the Fairport Angels are still a source of inspiration. "You try to live your life in the memory of the five girls," said Scheible. "They were all so outgoing, so positive."
For the families, a stroll along the canal is the perfect way to say thank you for all the support. "The Fairport community has just been wonderful to us the last five years, they've really wrapped their arms around us," said Monnat.
Friday's Angel Walk raised over $2,000 for the Joey Fund.
