Clad in green T-shirts bearing Daniel H. Rigby’s initials, local running enthusiasts joined hundreds of Georgetown University students Sunday afternoon for the second annual Run for Rigby, a five kilometer road race honoring the former Georgetown student.

According to Jack Kindregan (MSB ’06), an organizer for the run, over 650 participants and volunteers gathered in Red Square before the race to remember Rigby, a senior who died from smoke inhalation during a fire in his Prospect Street residence in October 2004.

Kindregan said that Run for Rigby was a major success, pointing to a rise in both the number of participants and the amount of money raised.

The proceeds from the weekend, which included a ball Saturday, totaled approximately $15,000, according to Andy Asensio (COL ’06), one of the event’s organizers. $7,000 of that total came from the race.

“That [total] figure is larger than last year’s,” Kindregan said.

Before the race, Rev. Alvaro Ribeiro, S.J., offered a prayer on behalf of the participants and thanked them for coming out to support a worthy cause. Daniel Rigby’s father, Kevin Rigby, also thanked the runners and the volunteers for their support of the race honoring his son.

After the race, runners were treated to free hamburgers from the Georgetown University Grilling Society. Organizers also placed a table in Red Square where students living in off-campus houses could sign up to have their residences checked for fire safety.

Sunday’s race was preceded by the inaugural Rigby Ball, a semi-formal fundraising dinner at the Capitol City Brewing Company on New York Avenue. Event organizers announced that over 450 people had attended Saturday’s ball.

“I see we have some serious runners up front, some rugby players over there, and the people who were at the ball last night who are still recovering and drinking water in the back,” Kevin Rigby joked before the race.

The proceeds from the weekend’s two events will benefit the Daniel H. Rigby Scholarship Fund at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, N.J. According to runforrigby.org, the fund focuses on providing scholarships to students who excel in Mock Trial, one of Daniel Rigby’s favorite high school and college activities.

Kindregan said that a portion of the proceeds will also be donated to organizations that promote fire safety for off-campus houses at the university.

“Another portion of the money will be put towards off-campus fire and safety awareness at Georgetown, in the hope of preventing another accident similar to Dan’s,” he said.