LEWISBERRY, Pa. —
A memorial walk was held in York County on Sunday for Rachel Apa, a former Red Land High School field hockey player who died after collapsing two miles from the finish line at the New York City Marathon one week ago.
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More than a hundred people walked in honor of Apa, a Lewisberry woman who loved ones described as a cherished member of the community who had a great future ahead of her.
“We thought it would be really important to come out here today, support her and her family and finish what she was unfortunately not able to complete,” said Isabella Hockenberry, a senior and a field hockey player at Red Land.
The community walked two miles, finishing what Rachel could not complete in the NYC Marathon.
“For somebody so young to be doing something she loves, you see the pictures of her running a mile for team and how excited she was,” said Red Land High School Athletic Director Tom Phifer. “She was just a brilliant young lady. We were so fortunate to have walked through our halls here at Red Land.”
Apa’s family told News 8 the NYC Marathon was her first. Rachel also graduated from Bucknell, where she played Division I field hockey.
Doctors attributed her death to a condition called rhabdomyolysis.
Current field hockey players at Red Land called Apa an inspiration and called on everyone to finish what she started.
“She was an awesome person. She’s very caring and just a great athlete,” said Grace Updegraff, a senior and a field hockey player at Red Land High School. “Such an unfortunate circumstance that happened and never take anything for granted. If you could, maybe try to finish her two miles on your own time just to support her.”