Perseverance
For the young person learning to keep going when the road gets hard.
Mile 0.0A Living Legacy
Run with purpose. Live with authenticity. Lead with love.
Lance's Legacy honors the life and spirit of Lance Sotelo by supporting young athletes, creating spaces of belonging, and carrying forward the perseverance, authenticity, and love Lance brought to his family, his teammates, his campus, and his community.
Mile 1.0Our Mission
A legacy that keeps moving.
Lance's Legacy was created by Lance's family to turn love into action. Through scholarships, races, community partnerships, and support for young people, we are building something that reflects who Lance was: determined, kind, authentic, joyful, and full of heart. This work is rooted in three values Lance lived every day.
Authenticity
For the student, athlete, or leader who deserves to feel seen for who they truly are.
Love
For the family, friends, teammates, and community members who believe kindness can keep moving forward.
Mile 2.0Who Lance Was
A runner, a leader, a bright light.
Lance Andreas Jesus Sotelo was a runner, student-athlete, graduate student, leader, son, brother, friend, and bright light to the people who knew him.
From Dalton, Georgia to Queens University of Charlotte, Lance built a life around movement, service, courage, and belonging. He showed up fully. He encouraged people to do better and be better. He made others feel accepted, valued, and seen.
Read Lance's storyMile 4.0 / Charlotte
A story connected to Charlotte.
Charlotte became part of Lance's story from the very beginning of his college journey. When Lance moved into Queens University as a freshman, it was also Charlotte Pride weekend. His family came with him, experienced Pride together, and watched Lance begin a new chapter in a city that would become deeply meaningful to him.
That connection now continues through community partnerships, including efforts connected to Charlotte Pride, the QFW 5K benefiting Charlotte Pride, and a future scholarship fund honoring Lance's life and legacy.
Explore the Charlotte connectionFrom Dalton to Charlotte
A path Lance ran with his whole heart — and one his family keeps moving along.
Mile 5.0Events
Gather. Run. Remember. Continue.
Featured event
Lance's Legacy Race in Dalton
A community race honoring Lance's birthday and raising support for scholarships, young athletes, and legacy-building work.
Date: Date TBD — fall 2026
Location: Dalton, Georgia
Charlotte partner event
QFW 5K benefiting Charlotte Pride
A Charlotte community wellness event led by Q Fitness and Wellness, with this year's event helping support a future Charlotte Pride scholarship fund honoring Lance Sotelo.
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Location: McAlpine Creek Park, Charlotte, NC
Options: 5K, walking, cheering, donating, volunteering, or joining the ZeroK
In their words
"Running was important to Lance, but his legacy is bigger than running."