Events

The NCANA Run for Joy 5K honors the memory of Katelyn Joy Beardsley. Katelyn was a vibrant young woman who brought immense joy to everyone who knew her with her love of laughter, mastery of sarcasm and one-liners, and fierce loyalty. She was unapologetically authentic and could sit with people in their deepest sadness or laugh with them in their highest joys. She had a strong love for God and people. She also loved running, which was her favorite way to combat her depression and anxiety. In the summer of 2018, Katelyn enrolled in the Nurse Anesthesia program at Wake Forest School of Medicine to fulfill her life-long dream of becoming a CRNA. Unfortunately, that dream was never realized. On June 11, 2020, Katelyn died by suicide.