Taylor Morris Glow Stick 5K Pays it Forward to 'Sing Me to Heaven'

Over a thousand people decked themselves in glow sticks and ran through the night on Saturday in the name of supporting their neighbors.

The Taylor Morris Glow Stick 5K, organized by Cedar Falls veteran Taylor Morris, his girlfriend Danielle Kelly and their friends, aimed to pay forward the great level of support Morris has received from the Cedar Valley in the time, just over a year, since he lost parts of all four limbs while serving with the U.S. Navy in Afghanistan.


"People have told us time and time again how inspiring we have been," the couple said in an email when they were planning this year's glow stick run. "The truth of the matter is the way the community rallied together to support one of their own is inspiring us."

Community members nominated inspirational people in the Cedar Valley and then voted on who should receive the money raised. On Saturday, the group donated $6,000 to Sing Me to Heaven and another $2,000 to Sue Spece.

Sing Me to Heaven, a non-profit based in La Porte City, was founded by Jennifer Mehler and Diane McIntosh after losing their daughter and grand-daughter Natalie. The foundation is committed to assisting grieving families in Iowa with funeral expenses after the loss of a child.

Sue Spece is a mother of three adult children who are wheelchair-bound due to spinal muscular atrophy, a form of muscular dystrophy. The family has started a fund in hopes of building a home that will assist Spece with her children’s needs.

Find a full album of photos from the event on Taylor Creery Photography's Facebook page.