In April, Brian Trent died due to complications from his diabetes. In October, his friends and co-workers from Sam’s Club put on a memorial 5K in his honor.

The race was meant to be much more than just a way to remember a friend, said event organizer Toni Crank. It was also meant as a way to raise money for research about the disease that claimed Brian’s life.

“We did the race to honor Brian,” Crank said. “He was a great friend and a wonderful person to work for. But we also wanted to do our part to fight against diabetes.”

On Monday, the group did just that as they presented the American Diabetes Association with a check for more than $3,500. The money wasn’t raised exclusively through the race however, a majority was.

“Most of it came from the race,” Crank said. “But there was also a T-shirt sale, a couple of fundraising dinners and a rummage sale. Still the race was the main event.”

The race went so well that plans to make it an annual event have already been put in motion, Clark said, with the hope to grow the number of runners and raise more money for the ADA.

“We’ve already started planning next for next year,” she said. “We have the day of the race set. It is going to be Oct. 11 of 2014. We’re hoping for an even bigger turnout then we had last year.”