Scott J. Beigel was more than a geography teacher and cross-country coach at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD). Among the 17 souls who lost their lives that fateful day in February 2018, he was a man that impacted lives. Ultimately, he was a man who saved lives by unlocking his classroom so students could find shelter.
To raise money for the Scott J. Beigel Memorial Fund, the annual Run4Beigel takes place April 10 at Pine Trails Park in Parkland. It’s where his team trained and, after their initial meeting, he told them he knew nothing about cross-country running. The team was impressed by his candor, and by his wit. When asked how they could improve, he would simply say, “Just run faster.” According to his mother, Linda Beigel Schulman, he told the team, “You teach me about cross country, and I’ll teach you about life.”
The Format
Beigel won the love and admiration of his team. To honor his memory, they took to social media and within six days of his death organized the first Run4Beigel event. It drew nearly 500 people. This year’s event features the traditional 5K Run-Walk and 1-mile Fun Run, and a 10-mile Two-Person Relay has been added that requires participants to run 5 miles each. Run4Beigel is also being done virtually and runners from around the world will be participating in his honor.
“We expanded to accommodate those who want a bigger challenge,” said Doug Eaton, race director. “The multiple events add a competitive component that never existed before, and we hope to draw friends, family, the philanthropic community, and competitive athletes from running clubs.”
Eaton says the events are a good way to get involved in a wonderful cause. “Scott was a great human being who cared so much about people,” he said. “Honoring him shows the Parkland spirit.” T-shirts will be given to all participants, and winners will receive trophies and cash prizes.
“It’s really a celebration of his life, and there’s a lot of energy because the community comes together as one in his memory,” said Beigel’s mother.
The memorial fund is rooted in Beigel’s love for summer camp. “It was something close to his heart and that’s why my husband Michael and I partnered with Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education (SCOPE),” she said. “It’s an organization that funds ‘camperships’ for at-risk, low-income children affected by gun violence, and it helps youngsters become empowered and more self-confident.”
The Full SCOPE
The organization does not run the camps, but partners are vetted to meet high standards. “The camps help the emotional needs of kids affected by gun violence by offering an environment that is acceptive and responsive to their needs,” said Executive Director Molly Hott Gallagher.
Beigel’s parents found a partner in SCOPE that was experienced in working with underserved youth and had working relationships with accredited camps. “When Linda and I met, we hit it off immediately,” said HottGallagher. “This relationship has been incredible … because of the focus on providing greater financial access so kids can attend camps they could not otherwise afford.”
SCOPE partners with more than 50 nonprofit summer camps. Last year, it provided more than 700 children with a camp experience. “Helping at-risk kids affected by gun violence was very important to Scott,” said Eaton. “Our goal this year is to raise at least $300,000 and help send 200 kids to camp.”
According to Hott Gallagher, some of the organization’s partner camps are free for all children, and SCOPE subsidizes additional costs for meals, travel, programming, and staffing. Since its inception, SCOPE has funded more than 25,000 camperships.
Applicants must be between ages 7 and 16, be enrolled in a public school or public charter school, and qualify for the Free and Reduced Price School Meals program. They must commit to stay in school. Inner-city kids exist in a world where chaos and crime are routine, and they’re more prone to exposure to gun violence. “Summer camp is very therapeutic because it gives kids a chance to be themselves and have fun,” said HottGallagher. “It’s a break from their daily routine, and it’s proven to be psychologically beneficial.”
An Insight
Beigel grew up in Dix Hills on Long Island, NY. He was a self-taught guitarist, runner, teacher, coach, friend, advisor, and jokester. He found his dream job at MSD because it allowed him to teach geography his way, not always out of a book, but about life’s experiences.
Despite his biting wit, he was a humble man who lived by the golden rule of treating others as you would like to be treated. “Scott really never knew how much people loved him,” said his mother. “The first day he was at Douglas, he called to tell me he was the worst teacher in the world. Students who had doubts about him were the ones who loved him the most. Wherever Scott went, he impacted lives.”
Beigel loved to mentor kids and to be a champion for the underdog. He volunteered to teach in Cape Town, South Africa and returned home without any baggage. He told his mother that in America kids worry about what kind of athletic shoe to buy, but over there, kids were lucky to have shoes. “Mom, I left all my clothes for them, because I knew it was something they could really use,” he said. That was the essence of Scott Beigel.
Lingering Pain
“The scar tissue from what happened four years ago hasn’t gone away, but it’s made Parkland an even tighter-knit community,” said Eaton. “We still feel the pain of that day, and in Scott’s memory, we want to make things better. It’s a way in which our community can give each other a collective hug.” The 17 will always be remembered.
For Beigel’s legacy, this quote by Mahatma Gandhi is appropriate: “Life isn’t always about grand gestures, but when living by your values, you can make a difference.”
You can follow Run4Beigel on Instagram and Facebook. To sign up, go to www.run4beigel.com.
