Remembering Justin: 5K run to honor student teacher with a gift
Justin Jensen was only given 22 years, but he didn't waste one second.
The Bartlett High School graduate had received his degree in special education from Illinois State University in May and accepted a position at Anderson Elementary School in St. Charles as a special education resource teacher.
He had plans to help coach basketball at one of the St. Charles high schools. In the meantime, he student-taught at Elgin Community College, working with the school's special ed transition program to help special needs adults learn how to find jobs and live on their own. He also tutored kids with learning disabilities at Anderson three days a week.
On July 5, Jensen, of Bartlett, died due to a previously undetected heart condition. "He was an absolutely amazing young man," said Debbie Dixon, a special-education teacher at Hinsdale South High School who was Jensen's cooperating teacher when he student-taught at the school from August to December of 2009.
"He left an indelible imprint on people's lives."
Now Jensen's friends and family want to honor his legacy by creating a 5K run called Justin's Jog to raise money for causes close to his heart, like the Special Olympics.
"I want to honor Justin's life and I think it will be a good way to do this," said Mary Bares, 22, Jensen's girlfriend of three years and the main event organizer.
"He was just so passionate about special education and this run will be a way to celebrate his life in some way and bring everyone in his life together."
Justin's Jog will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 at the Park Place Recreation Center, 550 S. Park Blvd., Streamwood. Registration will open Oct. 1 and cost $25.
The race date falls close to Jensen's birthday, Nov. 10.
Since this is the inaugural year, Bares and the seven other people on the "Justin's Jog" committee are still in the process of securing the necessary sponsorships and donations to ensure that the run has food, drinks, prizes and is able to give donations to different special education causes.
Bares estimates that it will take about $10,000 to facilitate the run and provide adequate donations. Right now Justin's Jog has raised more than $700 from the sale of commemorative bracelets Bares ordered that have Jensen's name printed on them. She sells them for $2 out of her home.
"I want this to be big," Bares, of Streamwood, said. "We are making brochures, mailers, posters - we are going to make a website. I don't want (Justin) to just be forgotten."
The Justin's Jog committee plans to wait until after the race and pick a few causes to donate money to in memory of Jensen.
Dixon, who says her students still can't get over the fact that "Mr. Jensen" isn't coming back, plans to be in attendance.
"(Justin) felt like my son. I have five kids of my own but he still felt like a son to me," Dixon said, adding that Jensen would often take the time to come up with unique lesson plans and make his students feel special by giving them funny nicknames.
"If anybody loved a job, loved what they were going to do, it was him," Bares said. "Once he got that job (at Anderson) he always told me, 'Mary, I can't wait to teach. I wish it was tomorrow.'"
For more information on Justin's Jog or to make a donation, e-mail mbares52@gmail.com or call (630) 479-1132.