Honoring Suzanne Tanner - Memorial Bench at Roger Williams Park
This year, we are dedicating our fundraising efforts in memory of Suzanne Tanner, our beloved friend, inspirational leader, and the heart of the Rhode Island running community. Suzanne passed away on April 3 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Suzanne was a runner, an artist, a mentor, and a true friend. Whether you met her through Run Garden City, lululemon, or during a morning run, you likely experienced her warmth, her strength, and her ability to make everyone feel welcome. She inspired us to show up, not just for the miles, but for one another.
One of Suzanne’s favorite places in Rhode Island was Roger Williams Park. To honor her in a lasting and meaningful way, we are raising funds to install a Memorial Bench within the park. This bench will offer a quiet space to reflect, to remember, and to feel Suzanne’s presence in a place she loved.
Our goal is to raise $5,000, which will cover the cost of the bench and ensure it is maintained for 10 years. Through this year’s race and the support of our community, we hope to reach that goal.
This bench is more than a tribute. It is a gift to everyone who finds peace in the park, a reminder of Suzanne’s impact, and a place where her memory will live on.
If Suzanne touched your life, if you ran beside her, or if you simply want to honor her spirit, we invite you to give what you can.
Let us remember Suzanne through love, community, and movement, just as she lived.
