A young husband and youth pastor has died after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while running the Portland Marathon.
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Trey Lara, 24, collapsed near mile 20 of the race on Sunday, October 4, just moments after his wife had seen him in good spirits.
His wife, Audrey, recalled how Lara "was smiling" when she kissed him around mile 18. Unaware of the tragedy that would unfold just two miles later.
Marathon Runner Dies After Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Emergency responders rushed Lara to the hospital, where medical staff attempted to save his life. However, he later died surrounded by his wife and other family members.
"He looked good. And then so I drove off to the finish line where the rest of our family and friends were going to watch him finish," Audrey said.
"The grief is coming in waves, where one moment it still doesn't feel real — where we're like, 'I'm just gonna wake up, and he's gonna be over there.' "
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established to help Audrey and Lara's family cover funeral and burial costs, alongside other mounting expenses.
Within just four days, the fundraiser collected more than $90,000 toward its $120,000 goal.
Family and Friends Remember Young Pastor
Lara and his wife shared a passion for their faith and youth ministry, having reportedly met at a summer camp.
Audrey also works as a youth pastor, while Lara had recently begun serving as a pastor with the Foursquare Church.
The couple had also launched Camp Genesis, fulfilling what was described as a "dream" for Lara.
"Trey was so full of life and lived intentionally every day," the GoFundMe description reads. "His confidence was unshakable and his faith unwavering."
Meanwhile, Portland Marathon organizers confirmed that a runner experienced a medical emergency during the event. They did not disclose further details about the individual.
Crystian Kumnick, managing director of Motiv Sports, which produces the Portland Marathon, expressed appreciation for those who responded to the emergency.
Kumnick said organizers were "grateful to the team members and first responders who came to the runner's aid."
As the family continues to mourn Lara's death, an October 8 update on the fundraiser thanked supporters for their overwhelming generosity.
"The family has been absolutely blown away by the outpouring of love and generosity," the update reads. "Your kindness has meant more than words can express."
