MELISSA HALTERMAN/Arizona Daily Wildcat Relatives of Barbara Monroe, one of the three nursing professors killed last year, watch as Monroe's niece, Claire Storry, signs a memorial quilt commemorating the tragedy.

More than 700 people gathered outside the College of Nursing yesterday morning to walk or run in memory of three instructors who were killed by a disgruntled student last year.

The 5K Memorial Walk/Run, held to celebrate the lives of Cheryl M. McGaffic, Barbara S. Monroe and Robin E. Rogers, raised nearly $33,000 for the Nursing Faculty Memorial Scholarship Endowment.

Ruth Storry, mother of victim Barbara Monroe, walked with 15 other members of her family, each wearing matching shirts with a picture of Monroe on the front.

She said the day was wonderful and that she was glad people had not forgotten her daughter and her daughter's co-workers.

"But it is a bittersweet day," Storry said. "And it's nice that my family is all here, and that makes it very important to me. And we wish Barb were here."

The desert sun shined brightly on the memorial participants while a chilly wind forced many to put on sweatshirts.

"It's a very emotional day, but it's a very wonderful day," said Pat Curatolo, Monroe's sister.

Mark Hamel, a UA alumnus, ran for the memorial while his wife walked.

"I thought it was an astounding response," he said of the 700 people who showed up for the event. "Races don't usually start off that big. People were really trying, too, because it's pretty windy out."

Floyd Roman, who ran in the race, arrived in his shorts and T-shirt just as the national anthem was finishing.

"I just wanted to do what little part I could," he said.

Even Wilma Wildcat attended the memorial, and took pictures with children.

Wilma broke out of character for a minute to tell the Wildcat she was adding her support to the event by making kids happy.

Attendees ran or walked at the memorial for various reasons, ranging from personal relationships to political positions on guns.

Hanna Young said Monroe was her mentor when she worked with her at UMC.

"It just feels like a way to remember them, and that there's a meaning to it," Young said.

Dana Eyde, who works at the UA's Disability Resource Center, was not living in Tucson at the time of the shootings. Eyde said he wanted to show support for the memorial because he is an anti-handgun proponent.

"I couldn't think of a profession more opposite handguns. If you wanted to pick one profession, nursing would be it," Eyde said.

Sheri Delfs, a registered nurse at UMC, and Dr. Dona Pardo, an Arizona Health Sciences Center continuing education administrator, waited for the walkers to begin. Delfs said she knew Cheryl McGaffic, and Pardo said she knew all three of the professors.

"I think it's a good way to remember them, · a healthy way of remembering them," Pardo said.

"And also, it means all of us coming together again," Delfi said. "To remember their lives and what they stood for, and not to remember the violence."

Pardo said it was good to see all the alumni, former employees and faculty again.

"We're seeing people we haven't seen in a long, long time," Pardo said.

The event ended with a check presentation to the Nursing Faculty Memorial Scholarship Endowment.

Tara McMahon, director of development for the College of Nursing, said the scholarship was derived from payout interest on the probable principal contributions that have been donated since the tragedy last year.

The endowment scholarship was established with $50,000 in contributions from family, friends, professional nursing colleagues and people across the country.

Amelia Sieger, who was the first recipient of the scholarship, received $2,000 at the beginning of the fall semester. Sieger, who was signing in participants, said she was not only honored and humbled to receive the scholarship, but inspired as well.

"It's inspiring to me to aspire to the level of nursing that these women practiced," Sieger said. "They were extremely caring and passionate. They were dedicated and had more professional integrity than anyone I've ever met, so I want to do that too. I want to bring to the profession what they brought to the profession."

The event was also attended by Republican Mayor Bob Walkup, who read a proclamation recognizing Oct. 26 ÷ Oct. 31 as a period to reflect on the role of nurses and their contributions.