Participants in today’s Raintree Run can take heart in the fact that, in addition to the miles they ran and the calories they burned, their entry fees helped honor two Lawrence youngsters whose lives were cut short.

Proceeds from today’s five-kilometer run and half-marathon — which begin at 8 and 8:05 a.m. — will go to the Sarah Elbayoumy Scholarship Fund, while proceeds from “Jack’s Mile” at 10:30 a.m. will go to the Jack Stineman Scholarship Fund.

Elbayoumy was a Free State High student and Raintree Montessori graduate who died in a 2003 car accident.

Her father, Moussa, established the scholarship to help community-minded students in need who also maintain a grade-point average of 3.5 or better.

“It something that we, when Sarah passed away, felt Sarah exemplified, which is academic excellence,” Moussa said.

He said race organizers Steve and Marcia Riley and Lleanna McReynolds approached him to ask if race proceeds could go to Sarah’s scholarship.

Jack Stineman — another Raintree student — died in a car accident in 2001. Jack’s Mile has been part of the Raintree Run ever since.

“The Stinemans have always been so involved with the run and the school, and Jack’s death was a shock to all of us,” McReynolds said. “It kind of always was a mission of ours: to celebrate the lives to the people who meant so much to the school.”

McReynolds said the scholarship in Jack’s name was an emergency-tuition scholarship for families that had fallen on hard times.

Other proceeds fund a memorial garden and help build Jack’s Garage. Because Jack enjoyed playing with John Deere riding toys, the garage is a facility at Raintree where other children can store similar toys.

Remaining proceeds from the race will fund capital improvements at the Raintree school, which has suffered fire and tornado damage in recent years, as well as fund teacher training.

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Woolhouse entered: Former Oklahoma State All-American and current Lawrence resident Jason Woolhouse has entered the Raintree run. He will join Shadrack and Silverus Kimeli — also All-Americans at Kansas State and Arkansas — as elite competitors in today’s race. Former OSU standout and Indianapolis half-marathon record-holder Patrick Kipdum will not race today after travel arrangements fell through.