A nonprofit supports cross-country and track athletes at Menchville High School in Newport News. And it’s all due to Luke Gere, who loved the sport and his team.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Anne-Lise Gere’s second child was named Luke. Gere said he was very determined and had a love for running.
“When he joined middle school, he started running track,” Gere said. “He was invited as an eighth grader to join the varsity at Menchville [High School].”
“But despite the fact that he was a very good runner, he was never cocky,” Gere said. “I think that’s one of the reasons why he left such a strong feeling of loss.”
In July 2020, Luke was diagnosed at 15 years old with a rare form of cancer called histiocytic sarcoma. He passed away about five months later.
“When he was at UVA in the intensive care unit… he said, ‘You know, Mom, I’m not …