Tributes Pour In For Nonprofit Leader Who Died During Skyway 10K

ST. PETERSBURG FL —Tributes continue to pour in for 48-year-old Justin Doyle who suffered a fatal cardiac event at Sunday's third annual Skyway 10K. Doyle was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital where he died.

While he didn't make it to the finish line, friends say Doyle will always be remembered as a champion for the community.

The aircraft engineer was the founder of the nonprofit Hope, Health and Sunshine Foundation dedicated to directly helping cancer patients by providing gift cards, gas cards, food, supplies, toys for children and help with bills.

Doyle started the foundation in 2015 after his wife battled breast cancer. In the five years since, the foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local cancer patients.

"It is with a very sad heart that we share the news of the death of the Foundation's guiding light, Justin Doyle," the foundation posted on its Facebook page. "He was a champion for all, a friend to many and, most importantly, a loving husband, brother and Pap Pap. As Justin would want, the work of the foundation will continue. But for now, please keep his family in your prayers."

In past year alone, the nonprofit collected and delivered toys and backpacks loaded with back-to-school supplies to pediatric patients at All Children's Hospital; distributed gift cards to local cancer patients including patients undergoing chemotherapy at the Morton Plant Mease Bardmoor Outpatient Center; purchased iPads for the Bardmoor chemo room; donated snacks, crossword puzzle books and board games to Florida Cancer Specialists; and donated supplies and meals to the St. Petersburg Free Clinic during Thanksgiving.

Under Doyle's leadership, the foundation put together an ambitious schedule of fundraisers for the year including a golf tournament April 6 at the Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club in Largo, an annual charity auction and an annual charity walk.

His sister-in-law, Carolina Ticeira, called him "the most giving person I've ever known."

"He was happy just by helping other people all the time," she said.

The surviving foundation members have decided to cancel an upcoming bowling tournament but will go ahead with plans for the golf tournament, saying that's what Doyle would have wanted.

Following complaints about a delayed response time in reaching Doyle on the bridge after he collapsed at the 5-mile marker, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue said it is "coordinating with all the agencies involved in response to the incident at the charity race, and we have scheduled a comprehensive post-incident analysis to determine the facts surrounding this tragic incident."

It's unclear if the ambulance on standby at the race was delayed by the crowd of more than 8,000 runners on the bridge.

But St. Pete Fire Rescue noted that fellow runners with medical training came to Doyle's aid within seconds.

Race officials offered their sympathies on Facebook, adding that "our team works extremely hard to put on one of the safest and well-organized races in the country."

Throughout the week, cancer patients, friends, co-workers and strangers touched by Doyle's generosity posted tributes on his memorial page on the Brett Funeral Home website and the foundation's Facebook page.

One tribute posted by Don Schmidt summed up the void left by Doyle's unexpected death.

"Few people are loved and respected as much as Justin," wrote Schmidt. "The world and his many loved ones has lost a very good man."

Ticeira said those wishing to honor Doyle are invited to make a donation to the foundation in his memory.