Harrison Thorp 8:06 a.m.
Sunday, October 15, 2017 8:11 am

Runners spill out of the Fairgrounds at the start of the race. (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHETER - As Jim Foley's mom said, her son "loved people and loved to party."

And in that spirit, more than 1,000 runners and walkers came out on Saturday to celebrate his legacy as a longtime and dedicated conflict journalist and contribute to his cause on a sparkling fall day under a cloudless blue sky.

"Jim continues to bring us together," Diane Foley said as a sea of blue swarmed out of the Rochester Fairgrounds and down Lafayette Street to compete in the 5K course that ran through downtown.

Christine Sorensen of Rochester said it was a special 5K because the cause was a great one and "hits home."

For many runners and walkers, the event was made more special for the cause it was supporting: "to advocate for the safe return of all Americans detained abroad, to protect independent conflict journalists and to educate regarding these threats to our freedom," according to the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation.

"It helped me want to run because this is for a good cause," said Christine Sorensen of Rochester, who was among the first women finishers. "This helps support other journalist who are fighting for the same cause."

As more than 1,000 runners, mostly wearing blue "I run for Jim" official race T-shirts, spilled out of the Fairgrounds, Diane Foley explained that while Jim may be gone, the work she dedicates to him goes on.

"We're in Washington every month advocating to make sure this continues to be a priority," Diane Foley said, "Most Americans don't understand how many hostages are taken every months."

Runners sporting official blue race T-shirts head down Lafayette Street at the start of the race.

She said that since Jim's death - he was brutally and publicly beheaded by ISIS in 2014 - the government is much more aware and supportive of the plight of conflict journalists and hostage taking in general, thanks in part to the work their foundation has done.

"We want to help all Americans in hostage situations," Diane Foley added.

For Joe Amidon of Rochester, the quality of the cause helped convince him to run in his very first 5K.

"I was nervous like I used to get for sporting events when I was a kid," he said after crossing the finish line. "It was great."

Race directors said they were thrilled with the number of entrants for the race, which was also available on a virtual platform.

The amount of funding raised was not immediately available today.