"He was so very well liked," said Kristin Whitcomb, who taught John in second grade.

John died of cancer Oct. 9, 2001, while a third-grader at Lawton.

On Saturday, others continued that walk around the Lawton Elementary School playground John used to take with his friend.

As many as 300 people at one time participated int he first Lawton Run-a-Thon Saturday. It was started to raise money for Lawton PTO and for the John R. Crosby Memorial Foundation, which helps families who have children with cancer.

PTO President Wendy Huss estimated 80 percent of the schools 285 families participated.

Missing was John, a boy small in stature, with glasses that appeared to take up half his face but never overshadowed a disarming smile.

Paula Crosby said her son was too young to have to deal with cancer. Doctors had trouble putting feeding and other tubes into his mouth because his baby teeth were loose.

Still he made it to school. Sometimes, he'd go to school in the morning, then go for three hours of chemotherapy and return to school in the evening for a program.

His mother and father, Walt Crosby, said that school kept him in good spirits. He had his friend. He had his teachers.

And he had a sense of humor

Whitcomb smiled while recalling his sarcastic, mock enthusiasm when she told the class it was time to get their math books out.

"Oh! Hoooo-raaaay" he'd say.

John kept his smile even as chemotherapy tubes were surgically implanted in his chest and throat.

The Crosbys are grateful for the support neighbors, friends and family offered. They provided dinners for the family every night during the six months from the day John was diagnosed to the day he died. The Crosbys have two other children, Walter, 12, and Henry, 6.

Saturday, friend and neighbors showed their support again, reminding a family taht hides its pain well that John hasn't been forgotten.

Paula Crosby struggled to capture the day in a few sentences. So many thoughts raced through her mind. Then see found what she wanted to say.

Public bickering among the Ann Arbor school board and superintendent have give the school system bad publicity lately, she said. "But this event shows how our community pulls together. All of John's teachers made it."

She paused. "This is what we do."

As the first run-a-thon in John's memory neared an end, his parents stood by themselves near the tree the school planted in his name. It's about 20 yards from the swings that John loved to play on.

"In loving memory of our friend John Crosby who made us smile," the plaque reads.

"This has been a great day," Paula told her husband.

Walt nodded. "People make a difference."