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WILMINGTON—A run to remember a Wilmington man and pro-skateboarder is helping raise awareness for a rare bone cancer.

Ray Underhill died from Chordoma in 2008 at the age of 45. In his memory, friends and family organized the Run for Ray Trail Run. Underhill was born in Tennessee and in the mid 1980's he moved to California. It was there his skateboarding career took off and he got married and had a son.

In 1998, the family relocated to Wilmington. Underhill worked for Eastern Skateboard Supply and in 2000 his daughter was born. In the public's eye, Underhill was a Powell-Peralta Bones Brigade pro-skateboarder of the late 1980's.

But to those to close to him, he was a loving husband, father, and friend.

"People that knew Ray, I think they always wanted to emulate him, they way he treated people and they way he conducted himself," said friend John Morgan.

In memory of Underhill's life, Morgan and some others organized the first Run for Ray Trail Run three years ago. All the proceeds go to the Underhill Family and the Chordoma Caner Foundation.
 
"Ray was very quiet and very shy and didn't really like a whole lot of attention even when he was a professional skateboarder," said Kerry Overman, widow. "So to come out here every year and see the amount of people that show up to support him, it's overwhelming."

Even though Ray was not a runner, family and friends said this event is about getting out and enjoying life each and every day, just like he did.
 
"His spirit definitely lives on with people doing things that they love and getting out and enjoying their lives," said Chris Blair, friend and participant.

Each year the event has raised about $5,000 for the Underhill family and the Chordoma Cancer Foundation.