Annual family run honors, celebrates Sean Richards

By Anna Hughes

Sean Richards left a lasting impression on everyone he met. In his 14 years, he embraced each day with a joyful spirit, a fervent faith, and a genuine love for others. He was known to be selfless, generous, friendly, kind, cheerful, and loyal. The Love Like Sean Foundation is dedicated to preserving Sean’s legacy—helping others to live and love like he did.

“He was a boy that could … make anyone feel welcome, anyone feel happier to be in his presence,” family friend Maria Banks said. “He was always just happy to run around the neighborhood, to be around, to play games … volunteer his time at church or at school with a running club that he was a part of. He was really a kid that made a difference and made an impact in people’s lives.”

Alongside Sean’s mother, Kristine Richards, Banks is co-chairing the third annual Love Like Sean Family Run on Nov. 1. Proceeds from the run are split between the Love Like Sean Foundation and community outreach programs at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church, Sean’s beloved parish and school. The purpose of the run is to promote love, community, friendship, and service—values that Sean embodied so naturally.

“If we can … carry on that legacy since he’s not here to carry it on himself, that was important to me,” Banks said.

Sean was an avid runner, as are many of his family and friends, so the decision to start a run in his honor made perfect sense. Although the inaugural run in 2024 was organized in just a few short months, the response was overwhelming: Friends and neighbors gathered in droves to celebrate Sean and support his family. They came together in fellowship, sharing memories, laughter, hugs, and tears.

“You did feel that love in the air, and it was so special,” Banks said. “As we approached the second year, and now the third year … [we’re] like how do we bottle that up and keep that?”

Banks said they’ve expanded upon each year’s success, adding more activities and formalizing the existing events, hoping to solidify the run’s framework for years to come.

“It’s been amazing because it takes a lot of hands to make this happen, but it’s been pretty easy to find those helping hands,” she said. “That alone is sort of a testament to who Sean was.”

As the annual run grows, the main goal remains: to honor Sean’s legacy with as many people as possible.

“When I think of Sean now, I think three words that are sort of a mantra are love, laugh, and play,” Banks said. “He just loved to play and laugh and spread joy and love. He loved his family. He loved his friends. So let’s get the whole community together … on that day to love, laugh, and play.”

The Love Like Sean Family Run 5K & Kids Dash will take place on the morning of Nov. 1, 2026, at Robbins Park. For more information on the Love Like Sean Foundation, visit lovelikesean.org.