Today hundreds of athletes laced up for the Cheesehead Run in Hilbert, that's the community Teresa Halbach was from. But in an effort to remember her and not the men convicted of her murder, many dressed for the occasion to make a statement and to let her family know Teresa's not forgotten.
The Cheesehead Run in Hilbert, the community Teresa Halbach grew up in, is a pretty light hearted race. It's been coined the cheeziest race in the world. But this year's run had a bit more of a serious tone to it as hundreds acknowledged the Halbach family today and the loss of their loved one.
From the sidelines it looks like just another race. But the blue shirts after blue shirts seen on runners, was a deliberate move.
"The reason we're wearing blue is for Teresa Halbach," says Paul LeTourneau of Oconto who is running with his wife in today’s race.
Blue, was also Teresa Halbach’s favorite color according to her friend Jill Walsh. Walsh helped organize the coordinating colors so many in attendance are sporting.
"I just put a challenge out there on Facebook. A lot of people are on social media and it was shared nearly 400 times so it just goes to show the power of a small community," says Walsh who also grew up here.
"We were pretty pleased that we saw as many people as we did in blue. I actually didn't have a blue tank top to run in until last night. I had to go buy one," adds Jen Rautmann who is running with her husband in today’s race.
By showing this simple gesture of support these athletes hope to take attention away from Avery and Dassey who were charged in Halbach’s murder and shine some light on the loss of Halbach instead.
"We just wanted to support her and her family and remind people that amongst all of that a life was lost and just try to remember her," adds Betsy LeTourneau.
"As I put my shirt on this morning it had a “T” on it which is usually for the team I run for, Team Tillmann. But it kind of had a different meaning today though. Today that was a reminder of Teresa," adds Walsh.
"As a mom I can't imagine the family having to relive this how many years later. With all this stuff coming back and I couldn't imagine if it was my daughter, “adds Rautman.
And while the choice of apparel clearly meant something significant to the runners, it likely means that much more to the small community of Hilbert and the family of Halbach.
A friend of Halbach’s said it best today when she told NBC26 that this simple sign of support for the family today was something Teresa would have absolutely done for somebody else.
