Youth Pastor Dies of Cardiac Arrest During Portland Marathon

A 24-year-old youth pastor, Treyton Lara, died unexpectedly from cardiac arrest while running the Portland Marathon on Sunday, his wife has confirmed. Lara was in good condition around mile 19, where his wife, Audrey Shin-Lara, and other family members were present to cheer him on. He reportedly ran over to his wife, shared a kiss, and continued running before collapsing around mile 20.

Doctors informed Shin-Lara that her husband had suffered cardiac arrest. She expressed shock at his death, noting that Lara had no known underlying medical conditions and was an avid runner who had trained extensively for the marathon. "The grief is coming in waves where one moment it still doesn’t feel real, where like I’m just gonna wake up, and he’s gonna be over there," Shin-Lara told KPTV.

Lara, who was days away from his 25th birthday, was remembered by his wife as ambitious and dedicated to making a positive impact. Earlier in the summer, he and his wife had opened a youth camp called Camp Genesis, which aimed to provide a space for middle and high schoolers to connect with God away from daily distractions. He was also described as a loving husband, brother, and uncle, deeply cherished by his friends and family.

An online fundraiser has been established to help cover funeral expenses and medical bills. As of Thursday afternoon, the fundraiser had exceeded $80,000 in donations, with the family expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support. The page also highlighted Lara's diverse interests, including film, photography, and cooking, and his defining feature, his faith.