The Troy Junior Women’s League will honor the memory of one of its own and raise funds for local scholarships through this weekend’s fourth annual Brittany Shepard Pugh Memorial 5K Run and Shep Sprint Fun Run.

The race, sponsored by the TJWL, honors the memory of Brittany Pugh and her son, Shep, who were killed in a vehicle accident in 2011.

Last year, the service organization raised more than $12,000 for local projects and was able to award two, $1,500 scholarships. Proceeds from the run will help fund this year’s scholarships.

“We don’t have a set amount as the goal we want to raise this year,” said Erikka Knight, chairman of the race. “We go into it wanting to raise as much as possible.

The scholarships will be awarded to graduating female seniors at schools in Pike County who will pursue higher education in the State of Alabama.

In addition, money raised from the run will to support various project as well as charitable entities such as Troy Public Library, area schools, the Child Advocacy Center, Relay for life and more.

“We are not a social club, we are an organization of service,” Knight said. “We do those things to give back, to raise money for not only those in Troy but also in Pike County overall.

“We strive to be the best example in not only writing checks but also in what we do… We give our time and volunteer, working for other organizations, such as Salvation Army’s bell-ringing project during Christmas.”

The run will start and end at the First Baptist Church in downtown Troy.

The runs will include a 5K which will start art 8 a.m. The 1-mile run will begin at 9 a.m. and the Shep Sprint will be at 9:30 a.m.

Knight said the Shep Sprint would be a couple of hundred yards long, and open for children aged 4 and under. All participants in the Shep Sprint will be presented with medals at the end of the run.

Moreover, a playground would be set up with a bouncing house and a TJWL member to watch the children when parents are running in the race.

Although the pre-registration period has passed, interested community members can register on the day of the event. Registration will start at 7 a.m.

Cost of entry to the 5K is $30, to the 1-mile run is $20 and to the Shep Sprint is $10.

Last year, more than 300 runners participated and Knight said she think this year’s event would have a similar turn-out.

“I think there will be a good turn-out,” Knight said. “A lot of people know they cannot run but they sign up anyway because they know the money they donate will go to the scholarships and our causes.

“We have about 120 pre-registrations and we are expecting about 100 on the day of the runs. I estimate we will have the same number (of participants) this year as last year.”