Be the Buffalo Memorial Run for Digits and Needle

🐃 Be the Buffalo

Do you know why we call this the “Be the Buffalo” Race and why we are so passionate about continuing it each year?

💔 The Legacy of Digits

• Dianne Sullivan Wells: FiA name: Digits was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and a well-known runner in Lexington.
• Running Group: She started the run group Running Wild that still meets to this day.
• Tragic Loss: Digits was tragically taken from us during one of our early morning runs in December 2018.
• Community Support: The local FiA & F3 groups converged and held a prayer circle in her honor.

🌪️ Facing Storms Together

You see, when a storm arises buffalo gather together & face the storm head on, and because of this they get through the storm quicker compared to other animals. For us “Being the Buffalo” is herding together & facing storms together.

• Different Storms: All storms are different, and it doesn’t mean the journey is easy.
• Shared Pain: It doesn’t mean the journey doesn’t hurt or that the pain will end quicker.
• Community Support: Together with your people & community, you will get through it by praying for each other.
• Helping Each Other: Lifting each other up and facing it together is key.

💖 Remembering Needle

A year and a half later we lost another beloved runner unexpectedly during a battle with breast cancer. Edith Edy Pearson (FiA name: Needle) was also a loving wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, fierce runner, and our biggest cheerleader.

🏃‍♂️ The Memorial Run

The Be the Buffalo 5K Memorial Run for Digits and Needle was started in honor of Digits & Needle. A way to remember them for their impact on us and to our community, for their love of running, and for their legacy to live on.

• Charitable Donation: Each year a portion of the proceeds is donated to a charity close to the heart of the families of Digits & Needle.
• 2026 Race Goals: For the 2026 race, we have decided to continue to support our local community.
• Community Support: The same community that showed up for us, that carried us through the storm.
• Join Us: If you’re a runner, sign-up to join us on Feb 7th.

🤝 Get Involved

If you don’t run, sign up to walk with us. Or if you’re unable to do either one, you can donate to support, because one thing I know for sure is this community shows up. We face the storm together.

• Sponsorship: We are currently looking for sponsors. Please reach out if you are interested.
• Deadline: The deadline for sponsorship is January 7th, 2026.
• Annual Donations: This race will make donations annually to the charity of choice decided by families of Digits and Needle.
• 2026 Proceeds: The proceeds for the 2026 race will go to the family of Kathy Young.

For more information, visit our race page: Be the Buffalo Memorial Run.