In 2004, after Pat died while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan, his family and friends established the Pat Tillman Foundation. Pat's Run, the Foundation's signature fundraising event, was created to give the community a way to celebrate Pat's memory while raising important funds and awareness to support the Pat Tillman Foundation.
Perry Edinger, Pat's friend and former head trainer for the Arizona State University Football Team, initiated and developed the concept of a 4.2 mile run/walk around the ASU campus. The run is staged so that all participants finish on the 42-yard line of Sun Devil Stadium, symbolic of the #42 jersey that Pat's wore while he was a Sun Devil. Perry wanted the event to be something physical, outdoors, and open to all saying, "With Pat's Run, people are motivated to exercise and do something positive for themselves, while honoring Pat's memory, sharing their stories and ultimately being an inspiration to others."
