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Alyssa Lokits' family carries on legacy while continuing to empower local runners

Alyssa Lokits' family carries on legacy while continuing to empower local runners
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Keeping women safe while exercising in public is the goal for the family of Alyssa Lokits.

She was killed while running on a local greenway in the fall. Lokits' family is keeping her memory alive by empowering other women who want to work out without fear.

Thursday night they collaborated with Vanderbilt's Project Safe Center to host a panel of local running groups, and city and community leaders. The conversation focused on outdoor safety while exercising.

Students and locals were there boosting their knowledge and skills to better protect themselves and others.

On Saturday, March 8, Lokits' family will host the first ever Free to Move 5K in her memory. Hundreds have signed up calling for more safety measures at local parks and greenways.

It'll be at 8 a.m. at Shelby Park.

Carrie: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/2e/72/be0f23854c54a228c9d6138c9847/carrie-recommends-header.png

Rhori: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/5b/25/a224d13d47739165c92b94e643db/rhori-recommends-header.png

Eugene: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/7b/09/9eaf788d46f580c4234978610d60/screenshot-2026-04-29-at-12-11-52-pm.png

Lelan: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/af/54/833bf879454097a398bd44f723de/lelan-recommends.png

Nikki-Dee: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/e1/b4/685a931d4182b82d9322d496fa15/screenshot-2026-04-15-at-12-01-18-pm.png

Henry: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/f7/31/2e3894bf45d9a1668f1ccc56b9f6/screenshot-2026-04-15-at-12-01-00-pm.png

Katie: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/77/55/afe9375249a4b9e058e4b2c3d2ea/screenshot-2026-04-15-at-12-00-46-pm.png

Brittany: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/67/90/788e5c364f00baabf9c5edae87e2/screenshot-2026-04-15-at-12-00-06-pm.png

Jennifer: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/e4/1e/9771c0824888a0fd87b2a1030979/screenshot-2026-04-15-at-12-02-19-pm.png

The skies were closed on 9/11. A Nashville phone call helped save a baby’s life

September 11, 2001 is a day most associate with terror and tragedy. Austin Pollack shares a story from that day about hope and persistence: the effort to save a little girl’s life – with an organ donation. The problem? The young patient was in Houston, and her life-saving liver here in Nashville. With the grounding of all civilian aircraft, how could it be done? “Nobody ever said this isn’t possible.”

- Rhori Johnston