RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - The Henrico teenager who died Sunday after she ran the Shamrock Half-Marathon in Virginia Beach will be laid to rest Thursday morning following a mass at St. Bridget Catholic Church.
Cameron Gallagher's family "will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Bliley's Funeral Home at 3801 Augusta Ave. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m., according to her online obituary.
"Cameron was an inspiration to everyone she met and more so to her family and friends who will love her forever. Cameron was a sophomore at Douglas S. Freeman High School and attended St. Gertrude High School her freshman year.She was a member of the St. Bridget Community, where she also attended grades K-8," the online obituary read.
“Her entire mission was to enjoy the race and accomplish something and spread that cheer on to other people,” Cameron's father David Gallagher said. "It was her time to go. Her last act of life was an accomplishment."
Cameron trained for weeks, according to her father, and seemed to be in good spirits throughout the marathon.
Gallagher said he and his wife were cheering for Cameron along the route. At mile three, Gallagher said she was still excited as she ran alongside her good friend.
When they saw her running at the 10 mile mark, Gallagher said Cameron was noticeably tired.
The next time he would see his daughter alive was moments before she collapsed, after crossing the finish line.
Cameron’s cause of death has not yet been released, but Gallagher said he believed it was cardiac arrest.
