Lynn Pierce, left, and good friend, Rena Medek, look at Micayla Medek’s memorial bench and photos at the 7/20 Memorial Foundation’s annual Reflection Garden on Tap fundraiser and 5K event in the Aurora Water-wise garden marking the 11th anniversary of the Aurora theater shooting July 19, 2023. Rena’s daughter Micayla Medek was one of the 12 victims who passed away in the theater after a gunman opened fire during a midnight viewing of a movie July 20, 2012. Gun violence also claimed the life of Pierce’s son, PJ, in 2005. The7/20 Foundation event started with a 5K and walk in the morning, followed by wellness and non-profit booths, beer tasting, food trucks, concerts, and chalk artists. Jonathan Blunk, A.J. Boik, Jesse Childress, Gordon Cowden, Jessica Ghawi, John Thomas Larimer, Matt McQuinn, Micayla Medek, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Alex Teves, and Rebecca Wingo and an unborn baby lost their lives and 70 people were injured in the shooting. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Artist Jennifer Chaparro works on her chalk drawing at the 7/20 Memorial Foundation’s annual Reflection Garden on Tap fundraiser and 5K event in the Aurora Water-wise garden marking the 11th anniversary of the Aurora theater shooting July 19, 2023. The event started with the Hero’s Journey 5K Run/Walk in the morning followed by wellness and non-profit booths, beer tasting, food trucks, concerts, and chalk artists. Jonathan Blunk, A.J. Boik, Jesse Childress, Gordon Cowden, Jessica Ghawi, John Thomas Larimer, Matt McQuinn, Micayla Medek, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Alex Teves, and Rebecca Wingo and an unborn baby lost their lives and 70 people were injured when a gunman entered the theater and opened fire during a midnight movie July 20th, 2012. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Anjel Harris, center, takes a picture of roses as friends Daisha Austin, left, and Kaylan Bailey, right, hold their roses for the picture during the 7/20 Memorial Foundation’s annual Reflection Garden on Tap fundraiser and 5K event in the Aurora Water-wise garden marking the 11th anniversary of the Aurora theater shooting July 19, 2023. Bailey is a survivor of the shooting and is related to 6-year-old victim Veronica Moser-Sullivan and survivor Ashley Moser, Veronica’s mother, who was paralyzed in the shooting and also lost her unborn child. The event started with the Hero’s Journey 5K Run/Walk in the morning followed by wellness and non-profit booths, beer tasting, food trucks, concerts, and chalk artists. Jonathan Blunk, A.J. Boik, Jesse Childress, Gordon Cowden, Jessica Ghawi, John Thomas Larimer, Matt McQuinn, Micayla Medek, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Alex Teves, and Rebecca Wingo and an unborn baby lost their lives and 70 people were injured when a gunman entered the theater and opened fire during a midnight movie July 20th, 2012. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Folks at the 7/20 Memorial Foundation’s annual Reflection Garden on Tap fundraiser and 5K event in the Aurora Water-wise garden marking the 11th anniversary of the Aurora theater shooting July 19, 2023. The event started with a 5K run and walk in the morning and was followed with wellness and non-profit booths, beer tasting, food trucks, concerts, and chalk artists. Jonathan Blunk, A.J. Boik, Jesse Childress, Gordon Cowden, Jessica Ghawi, John Thomas Larimer, Matt McQuinn, Micayla Medek, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Alex Teves, and Rebecca Wingo and an unborn baby lost their lives and 70 people were injured when a gunman entered the theater and opened fire during a midnight movie July 20th, 2012. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Aris Billapando, 14, works on a Batman-themed chalk drawing at the 7/20 Memorial Foundation’s annual Reflection Garden on Tap fundraiser and 5K event in the Aurora Water-wise garden marking the 11th anniversary of the Aurora theater shooting July 19, 2023. Aris’ mother is a survivor of the mass shooting that occurred during a midnight showing of the Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises,” July 20, 2012. The 7/20 Foundation event started with the Hero’s Journey 5K Run/Walk in the morning followed by wellness and non-profit booths, beer tasting, food trucks, concerts, and chalk artists. Jonathan Blunk, A.J. Boik, Jesse Childress, Gordon Cowden, Jessica Ghawi, John Thomas Larimer, Matt McQuinn, Micayla Medek, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Alex Teves, and Rebecca Wingo and an unborn baby lost their lives and 70 people were injured when a gunman entered the theater and opened fire during a midnight movie July 20th, 2012. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
The Ascentiate sculpture dedicated to the Aurora theater shooting victims at the 7/20 Memorial Foundation’s annual Reflection Garden on Tap fundraiser and 5K event in the Aurora Water-wise garden July 19, 2023. The event started with the Hero’s Journey 5K Run/Walk in the morning followed by wellness and non-profit booths, beer tasting, food trucks, concerts, and chalk artists. Jonathan Blunk, A.J. Boik, Jesse Childress, Gordon Cowden, Jessica Ghawi, John Thomas Larimer, Matt McQuinn, Micayla Medek, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Alex Teves, and Rebecca Wingo and an unborn baby lost their lives and 70 people were injured when a gunman entered the theater and opened fire during a midnight movie July 20th, 2012. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Michelle Ancell, right, and her nephew, Hunter Doyle, on a hill overlooking the 7/20 Memorial Foundation’s annual Reflection Garden on Tap fundraiser and 5K event in the Aurora Water-wise garden marking the 11th anniversary of the Aurora theater shooting July 19, 2023. The event started with the Hero’s Journey 5K Run/Walk in the morning followed by wellness and non-profit booths, beer tasting, food trucks, concerts, and chalk artists. Jonathan Blunk, A.J. Boik, Jesse Childress, Gordon Cowden, Jessica Ghawi, John Thomas Larimer, Matt McQuinn, Micayla Medek, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Alex Teves, and Rebecca Wingo and an unborn baby lost their lives and 70 people were injured when a gunman entered the theater and opened fire during a midnight movie July 20th, 2012. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Holistic practitioner, Cornelia Belcher with the Nubian Unity Foundation, plays the singing bowls during the 7/20 Memorial Foundation’s annual Reflection Garden on Tap fundraiser and 5K event in the Aurora Water-wise garden marking the 11th anniversary of the Aurora theater shooting July 19, 2023. The event started with the Hero’s Journey 5K Run/Walk in the morning followed by wellness and non-profit booths, beer tasting, food trucks, concerts, and chalk artists. Jonathan Blunk, A.J. Boik, Jesse Childress, Gordon Cowden, Jessica Ghawi, John Thomas Larimer, Matt McQuinn, Micayla Medek, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Alex Teves, and Rebecca Wingo and an unborn baby lost their lives and 70 people were injured when a gunman entered the theater and opened fire during a midnight movie July 20th, 2012. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Joel Dusek with the band Brushfire, performs at the 7/20 Memorial Foundation’s annual Reflection Garden on Tap fundraiser and 5K event in the Aurora Water-wise garden marking the 11th anniversary of the Aurora theater shooting July 19, 2023. The event started with a 5K run and walk in the morning followed by wellness and non-profit booths, beer tasting, food trucks, concerts, and chalk artists. Jonathan Blunk, A.J. Boik, Jesse Childress, Gordon Cowden, Jessica Ghawi, John Thomas Larimer, Matt McQuinn, Micayla Medek, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Alex Teves, and Rebecca Wingo and an unborn baby lost their lives and 70 people were injured when a gunman entered the theater and opened fire during a midnight movie July 20th, 2012. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
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Lynn Pierce, left, and good friend, Rena Medek, look at Micayla Medek’s memorial bench and photos at the 7/20 Memorial Foundation’s annual Reflection Garden on Tap fundraiser and 5K event in the Aurora Water-wise garden marking the 11th anniversary of the Aurora theater shooting July 19, 2023. Rena’s daughter Micayla Medek was one of the 12 victims who passed away in the theater after a gunman opened fire during a midnight viewing of a movie July 20, 2012. Gun violence also claimed the life of Pierce’s son, PJ, in 2005. The7/20 Foundation event started with a 5K and walk in the morning, followed by wellness and non-profit booths, beer tasting, food trucks, concerts, and chalk artists. Jonathan Blunk, A.J. Boik, Jesse Childress, Gordon Cowden, Jessica Ghawi, John Thomas Larimer, Matt McQuinn, Micayla Medek, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Alex Teves, and Rebecca Wingo and an unborn baby lost their lives and 70 people were injured in the shooting. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
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By Andy Cross | across@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
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The annual 7/20 Memorial Foundation’s Reflection Garden on Tap fundraiser and 5K event in the Aurora Water-wise garden marking the 11th anniversary of the Aurora theater shooting.
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