Home of The Josh Lee Memorial 5K Run and Scholarship Fund
At 20 years old, Josh Lee had the world by the tail. He was an infectious optimist, a gifted cross-country athlete at USC Upstate, a beloved son and brother and a friend to everyone who knew him.
In the fall of 2015, Josh died following a devastating automobile accident. But today, the light of his spirit lives on.
“Just finish the race.” That’s what Josh liked to say to friends or family members who needed a word of encouragement or to teammates who looked to him for leadership.
And, those are the words that enabled Josh’s parents, Johnny and Laurie Lee, to turn unfathomable loss into a life-affirming mission.
A Legacy Born of a Life Well Lived
The Josh Lee Memorial 5K Run
In 2015, Johnny and Laurie Lee established the Josh Lee Memorial 5K Run in memory of their son, Josh. Now in its 9th year, the run is held on the campus of USC Upstate and attracts more than 250 participants each year.
Josh Lee Memorial Scholarship
Every year, USC Upstate awards two student-athletes with a scholarship that honors the life of former Upstate student, Josh Lee. Qualifications for the scholarship are based on a student’s academic, athletic and community standing.
Become a Sponsor
Thanks to a generous community, the Josh Lee 5K is sponsored by dozens of businesses, organizations, and individuals in the Spartanburg community. If you’d like to help with this effort, we’d love to invite you to get involved.
“Josh believed that the only way to succeed in life is to lift others up along the way. The annual run we established in his memory supports scholarships for student athletes at USC Upstate and directly benefits the college’s track program. We think Josh would be proud to have his name associated with this effort.”
Laurie Lee, Josh’s mom
Remembering Josh
The death of a child is every parent’s worst nightmare. In the wake of the accident that claimed her son’s life, Laurie Lee turned to prose and poetry to navigate the weeks and months to follow.
Laurie’s poignant book, Just Finish the Race is both testimony and tribute - and an incredibly candid portrait of a family learning to face a new reality.
The poetry woven throughout the pages can only come from a mother’s heart and will stay with you long after you’ve finished this tender story of love and loss.
Our Sponsors Make it Happen
It takes a village, a community, and a cadre of friends to support the annual Josh Lee Memorial 5K Run. Thanks to these businesses and organizations, all of the proceeds of the run are directed to the Josh Lee Memorial Scholarship Fund at USC Upstate.
Click here for the complete list of our 2021 and 2022 sponsors or go to the Sponsors page of the website.
