There should be plenty of tears mixed in with laughter when friends gather to remember Sofie Manarin this weekend.
The talented junior national cross-country ski team member was killed in a bicycle accident last June.
The Sofie Manarin Bursary-24 Hour Skiathon begins this Friday (March 29) at 2 pm. The skiathon is being held in memory of the popular teenager.
"She's still missed dearly, but this event will allow us to remember her and celebrate her life," said Terry Moss, a vice-principal at Lockerby Composite.
Manarin, 17, was a top skier on the Canadian National Junior Ski Team and was well on the road to becoming one of the country's top skiers, said Moss.
The event will raise funds for a bursary to be awarded each year to a young cross-country skier to help pay for education and training.
The skiathon will include a walk/run combined with a cross-country ski, depending on snow conditions. If there isn't enough snow for a quality ski, then it will involve only walking and running.
The event will take place at the Laurentian University physical education building. Registration sheets are available at Lockerby Composite School. For more information, phone Moss at 522-1750 or check the Internet at www.laurentiannordic.ca
