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Run with Maud: Mother of Ahmaud Arbery creates new 5K in memory of her son

By Candace McCowan
By Candace McCowan

ATLANTA — Ahmaud Arbery would’ve been 29 in May. Now his mother is turning her pain and grief into action: the Ahmaud Arbery foundation will host its first “Run with Maud” in May.

“It’s really hard somedays, every morning I think about my son,” said Wanda Cooper-Jones, who admits it’s been a journey through sadness, anger and healing. And now she is a mother on a mission.

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“It gives me a meaning to go on after I lost Ahmaud. I had to do some soul searching on whether I wanted to accept the pain and sit down on it or do something to make a change,” said Cooper-Jones.

Through the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation, she is partnering with the Atlanta Track Club for the first ever “Run With Maud” 5K.

The event will be in Centennial Olympic Park on May 6 on a weekend that Ahmaud would be turning 29. The goal is to support mental wellness for black young men and boys.

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“When Ahmaud was killed, he was having some mental challenges. He chose running as a way to medicate for those challenges that he was going through. I think mental health is neglected in our community and I wanted to be that resource and that help, “said Cooper-Jones.

This past February marked three years since Ahmaud was shot and killed while running through his Brunswick neighborhood.

And since then, runners around the world have laced up on the anniversary of his death to honor Ahmaud.

Now year after year, she hopes all the support for Ahmaud, can uplift others through the “Run with Maud” 5k.

“I hope all the time that Ahmaud is looking at me and he proud of me.”

You can find more information on the “Run with Maud 5K” here.

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Runners gathering on Atlanta Beltline to remember Ahmaud Arbery 3 years after his death

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