Alpine youth group to host Easter-themed fun run in honor of mom who died after birthing twins
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- An undated photo shows parents Sam and Morgan Hughes with their newborn twins.
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- An undated photo shows Sam and Morgan Hughes.
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- An Alpine Youth Council flyer promotes the Easter bunny run supporting the families of Morgan Hughes, who died after birthing twins in December 2024.
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- The Hodson and Hughes families are pictured in this undated photo.
The city of Alpine and surrounding communities in Northern Utah County are rallying around the family of a woman who died after giving birth to twins late last year.
The Alpine Youth Council, in conjunction with the Lone Peak Fire Department, will host a fundraiser Saturday in honor of Morgan Aubrey Hughes of Benjamin.
Hughes, 23, died Dec. 28, 2024, just days after welcoming her son, Hudson Samuel, and daughter, Georgia Elise, into the world with her husband, Samuel.
Her father, Brian Hodson, is a captain with the Lone Peak Fire Department, the agency wrote in a social media post when sharing the news publicly in late December.
“Brian has been a part of this department dating back to the volunteer days, which means Morgan has been part of this fire family longer than the majority of our full-time staff. She grew up visiting the station, spending time within these walls, and building connections with all of us. Morgan was, and will always remain, a cherished member of this family,” a GoFundMe account organized by the Lone Peak Fire Department reads.
The Alpine Youth Council typically hosts an annual banquet for first responders; their 2025 event had been postponed for various reasons, according to their adult advisor Nicki Christiansen. In light of Hughes’ passing, they opted to host a fundraiser to support her family instead of rescheduling the dinner for the first responders.
Students with the AYC have been tasked with organizing a Bunny Fun Run event, a 1-mile fun run or walk around Creekside Park in Alpine. All ages and abilities are welcome.
Additionally, there will be face painting, prize drawings and a bake sale.
Proceeds raised from the event will be given directly to the families, according to Christiansen.
“They’re in our community, he (Brian Hodson) is our fire captain, they’ve given back to the community and we wanted to do this for them,” Christiansen said.
Morgan Hughes grew up in Cedar Hills and graduated from Lone Peak High School in 2020, according to her obituary.
She went on to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in McAllen, Texas.
Hughes’ family said in her obituary that she had fulfilled one of her greatest dreams by becoming a mom.
Nancy Jones, administrative assistant at the Lone Peak Fire Department, shared fond memories of Morgan, describing her as always smiling and positive.
“The thing that I remember most about her is that she was always joyful; she just was so kind and so good,” Jones said in a phone interview with the Daily Herald on Thursday.
She also highlighted the Hodson family’s resilience and gratitude for community support.
“There’s a lot to process in this whole thing. They miss her so much,” Jones said. “Life is never going to feel and be the same. They’re doing the best that they can and they’re amazing people, but, you know, it’s going take some time.”
Alpine Youth Council Mayor and Lone Peak High School senior Emily Hauck said she also has connections to the Hodson/Hughes family through mutual friends. She’s honored to be at the forefront of organizing the event aimed at supporting the families as they continue to process the heartbreak.
“It’s been incredibly powerful to see all of these teenagers, who are all high schoolers and all have extracurricular activities and stuff, kind of gather in their busy lives and come together for this family,” Hauck said. “The Hodson family is a super widely known family. They have a lot of cousins and aunts and uncles in the area, so they play a lot of sports, so most everyone knows of this family, and I think it’s been cool to gather to help them.”
She’s also excited to see how many people from the community will attend and support the Hodson and Hughes families.
The Alpine Youth Council has asked for a donation of $10 per person, and people can sign up until the morning of run.
The group’s annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place following the fun run.
For more information or to participate in the Saturday event visit raceentry.com/bunny-run-for-morgan/race-information.
Creekside Park is located at 100 S. 600 East in Alpine.
