Melican Middle School will host a 5K in remembrance of Lisa Kaplan, a Melican Spanish teacher who died last year, to raise money for her family and cancer research.

Kaplan, who recently passed away from a rare type of Mesothelioma, taught for 12 years at Melican. One of her closest friends, math teacher Laura Frem, remembers Kaplan in a positive way as someone who loved to run, decorate cakes, and play the guitar.

“She was a great teacher and a really good friend,” Frem said.

The race will be held at 10 a.m. on May 14. Admission will be $25 prepaid, and $30 at the door.

“We want to raise money for the family, and maybe also cancer research,” Frem said.

The main planners for this event were Melican teachers Frem and Danielle LeBoeuf and former Melican teacher Beth Elam. Their idea of a road race in memoriam of Kaplan stemmed from the love of running they shared.

“We would all run with each other after school for many years,” Frem said. “That was our way of burning off steam and being together and getting exercise.”

Frem said she and Kaplan became great friends through teaching. Their rooms were very close to one another, so they would frequently converse between classes and in the halls.

“You have these bits of time to spend together and to get to know each other; it’s these little stolen moments in the hall or before school,” Frem said.

Kaplan also had a passion for guitar and singing. To commemorate her love for music, the band The Ceilings, made up of Algonquin students, will be performing at the event.

“We want to show support for the people Mrs. Kaplan left behind and raise money for a great cause,” lead singer of The Ceilings and freshman Mia McAuliffe said.

“Mrs. Kaplan brought the joy of music into the lives of students at Melican, and will be remembered,” lead guitarist and freshman Maggie Del Re said.