HASTINGS, Neb. – Hundreds, if not thousands of people are walking or running into the night this weekend to remember the legacy of a late Hastings College graduate.

The 4th annual 'Miles for Mik' event is underway at the Jackson Dinsdale Art Center on the Hastings College campus. 

Participants in the walk are remembering Mikaelah Molifua, better known as Mik, who passed away in 2020 after her second battle with cancer.

Some are walking, some are running, and some are walking with a 50-pound ruck on their shoulders, but they're all supporting the same cause to remember Molifua, and to raise money for the Mikaelah Daneen Molifua Memorial Scholarship for Hastings College students showing financial need. 

Her older brother Casey organized the annual event ‘Miles for Mik’ to honor his sister who was heavily involved with several activities, sports, and clubs for Hastings College.

"She embodied everything about Hastings College and being a Bronco." said Hastings College Senior Lecturer of Physical Education
Casey Molifua. 

This year's event began at 6 a.m. Friday morning, and lasts throughout the night until 6 a.m. Saturday.

Hundreds of people are running or walking a one-mile circuit around Heartwell Park, departing on the path at the top of every hour.

"Most of these people never met my sister, probably 95% of people participating today never met my sister," said Molifua. "Maybe they have somebody who lost a grandparent, sibling, parent, or someone to cancer. On the first mile, I had someone tell me my grandmother passed away from breast cancer 10 years ago, and that's who I'm dedicating this first mile to."

Molifua said him and other organizers thought about changing the layout this year for participants to run two miles every hour for 12 hours, but several students and others insisted on keeping the overnight tradition by running in the pitch black.

"The students were like 'No, the midnight hours are kind of the crazy hours,' where everybody's feet are sore, people are coming in at 3:00 a.m., 4:00 a.m. just trying to bring some energy and spirit."

Turner Tinant, a close friend of Molifua, is doing his third 'Miles for Mik' campaign, and says he’s planning on doing all 24 runs while wearing a 50-pound ruck from his shoulders. 

"It's just about making it tougher, part of the suffering, part of the mindset of this challenge, said Tinant. "'Ain't no hill for a hill climber' is what we've been saying all day, so that's going to be the motto for us."

Anyone is invited to walk a mile in support of Mik with hourly runs beginning at the Jackson Dinsdale Art Center until 6:00 a.m. Saturday. 

The final community celebration is a barbecue picnic on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m.

You can support or learn more about the Mikaelah Daneen Molifua Memorial Scholarship here.