Run set to support domestic violence causes

CHENEY - Sativa Transue earned the honor graduating from Cheney High School when she was voted as the student with the most contagious laugh.

At age 25, a domestic violence incident silenced Transue in 2021, but she continues to be remembered by those who are part of the Eastern Washington University Exercise Science program.

The third annual Sativa Transue Memorial 5k will be at 9 a.m. at Saturday, June 8, starting at Roos Field. The event raises funds to support local domestic violence-related organizations. Check in time is 8 a.m.

"She submitted great work and she was just always a good student," program head Christi Brewer said of Transue who graduated in 2017.

Sativa was born in Spokane and moved to Cheney at age 12. Following graduation, Sativa earned her bachelor's degree in exercise science.

Brewer lost track of Sativa until learning she moved to Seattle and had been on the news relative to her death.

"It's hard to even think about something like that happening to such a sweet girl," Brewer said.

Sativa's death and the evolution of the memorial run galvanized the Exercise Science Club, Brewer said.

"The students had not really done a big club activity in years," Lewis said. "We just put two and two together and said, 'Well, let's do a 5k.'"

The event has raised $6,000 in its first two years with 80% of funds donated to organizations raising awareness and support victims (including pets) of domestic violence. This year's recipients will be the YWCA and Spokanimal.

Exercise Science Club is seeking both monetary and non-monetary donations.