Holiday meaning for the Monk Strong Memorial Foundation

BY JAXON HANSARD / Sports Editor

Around Halloween, the weather cools off and the leaves change colors. This time of the year is used for spending time with family and loved ones. For Monica Monk and her family that means keeping the memory of late husband Justin Monk alive around his hometown and surrounding communities. 
 

Justin Monk was a Stephenville native who touched more people’s lives than he would’ve known. Throughout Justin’s life, he wanted to help and serve people. He accomplished that in multiple selfless ways. 
 

The hometown kid served his country as a United States Marine for four years in the 2/3 Fox Company. During his time of service, his company was involved with storied missions as the rescue team that would save the American “Lone Survivor” Marcus Luttrell. At his funeral, 60+ marines were in attendance. 
 

One of his fellow Marines Jared Procter from Lotus Texas has made multiple trips across the Lone Star state to support Monk’s battle with brain cancer.
 

“I’m here whenever they need help,” Procter said. “when we got back from out first deployment, Justin actually flew in the same time and we hung out with my family and then we drove up there to Stephenville and surprised his family.”
 

Later on, Justin became a nurse and worked for a few years at the Hamilton Hospital where he would later have his first Monk March around the Hamilton Healthcare campus and neighborhood to help raise funding and awareness for brain cancer that would later take his life. 
 

Justin’s brother Garrett wanted to make sure that the things Justin stands for are carried on even without him.
 

“He was big on people, he loved people and we wanted to make sure we could help so we felt this would be the best opportunity to continue his legacy by continuing his name to help out people,” Garrett said.
 

While the Monk family will forever be changed by Justin’s battle with brain cancer, their memorial foundation acts like a vessel for anyone touched through Justin’s life and even some after it. 
 

Koll Bickerstaff was the overall winner of the “Justin Monk Memorial Rugged 5K” that was hosted at Melody Mountain Ranch on Nov 9. While he did not know Justin Monk he was an advent racer, running 5K’s since he was nine years old. Bickerstaff found the first Justin Monk Memorial Rugged 5k that was hosted at Stephenville City Park last year and won that race. 
 

“I don’t know anyone else or any of these people, but everyone treated me like family, so I just keep coming back,” Bickerstaff said. 
 

Bickerstaff ran the original race because it was close to him in Stephenville and wanted to keep his legs warm. When he arrived to the first race he appreciated how official and put together the event was.
 

“Even from last year, feeling like they put so much effort into it, to this year being huge. You can really tell people care and that makes you want to run it” Bickerstaff said. 
 

He plans to become a regular runner (and maybe a regular victor) as long as the Monk Strong Memorial keeps putting on the races.