WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Palm Beach Zoo hosted a 5K race in memory of a beloved friend and co-worker, Stacey Konwiser.
The Stacey Konwiser Memorial Save the Tiger 5K kicked off at 7:30 a.m.
The annual race has been renamed in her memory and there was record turnout of nearly 1,000 people.
Friends and co-workers remembered Stacey for her positivity and love of big cats. She was known as the Tiger Whisperer.
"She was a good friend," said Dave Ruhl, the head of maintenance and construction at the zoo. "Always fun to have around, fun to work with, very helpful in projects."
Erin McNally, a vet tech, has known Stacey for more than a year.
"I would like everybody to remember her as a positive person, very passionate about her career and about the animals she worked with in her entire career not just here at the Palm Beach Zoo," said McNally.
The race spanned 3.1 miles through Dreher Park. It ended at the fountain inside the Palm Beach Zoo.
Registration was $40 and included free admission to the zoo for the day.
The race honoring Stacey will be held this time every year.
VID: The Stacey Konwiser 5K kicking off. More than 1,000 ppl here paying tribute to Stacey @WPTV pic.twitter.com/8RHByiPEXn
— Gabrielle Sarann (@GabrielleSarann) May 14, 2016
The Stacey Konwiser Save the Tiger 5K @PalmBeachZoo about to kick off @WPTV pic.twitter.com/KmOjjdikJE
— Gabrielle Sarann (@GabrielleSarann) May 14, 2016
