The Root Family is continuing to fight for justice for their daughter, killed by a drunk driver and illegal immigrant in early 2016.
Sunday morning, Senator Joni Ernst joined them for the second annual A Mile for Sarah's Smile, which honors the life of Sarah Root.
"They have taken such a tragedy, to see their daughter Sarah taken away so soon, but then turn it into positive action for others," Sen. Ernst said.
The event promotes organ donation and raises money for scholarships to Iowa Western Community College and Bellevue University.
"Honoring Sarah and her hard work to get her 4.0 Bachelor's degree in criminal investigation, to be an organ donor, to give life to somebody," explained her mother, Michelle Wilson-Root.
"Sarah was a healthy young woman and she was able to save those six lives through her organ donation and countless others through her tissue donations," Sen. Ernst said.
"A piece of me is so thankful that I have a piece of Sarah that continues to live on," Michelle said.
The fight continues in the Senate for justice for Sarah and to catch her killer, Eswin Mejia, who fled while out on bond.
"We want to make sure that one, we're promoting good immigration practices, and that those that are illegal and they do something such as this, very tragic, ended sarah's life, that they are held accountable," said Sen. Ernst.
"We have to live that the rest of our lives. Not only losing our daughter, but losing her killer as well," Michelle said.
Still, today's message was one of hope.
"These all important issues, but this is about Sarah and about helping others," Michelle said.
