A 24-year-old youth pastor tragically died while running the Portland Marathon on Sunday, just minutes after stopping to share a kiss with his wife, who was cheering him on along the course.

Treyton “Trey” Lara collapsed near mile 20, leaving his wife, Audrey Shin-Lara, and their loved ones devastated by a sudden loss that shook their family and faith community.

Audrey, also 24, had followed her husband’s progress throughout the marathon, stopping at miles 10, 14 and 18 to encourage him. Between miles 18 and 19, Trey slowed briefly to greet her.

“He ran over, was able to give me a kiss, was smiling, and then ran off,” Audrey told Portland television station KGW-TV. “He looked good. And then so I drove off to the finish line, where the rest of our family and friends were going to watch him finish.”

But the celebration never came.

While Audrey was driving toward the finish line, her mother-in-law called with devastating news. Trey had collapsed, and emergency responders were performing CPR.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.

“We’re all still in a little bit of shock,” Audrey said. “We tried going to bed, and we’re like, ‘We’re gonna wake up, and it’ll be a really bad dream. And he’ll be right there.’”

According to Audrey, Trey had spent months preparing for the marathon and showed no signs of health problems. Running was something he enjoyed as a way to relax and release stress.

The young couple’s love story began long before their marriage nearly five years ago.

They first met at a summer camp when they were 12. Audrey recalled that Trey knew almost immediately he wanted to marry her.

“He saw me, and I guess he told his friends and even his best friend’s mom, he said, ‘That’s the girl I’m going to marry,’” she remembered.

Their shared love for young people and Christian ministry inspired them to launch Camp Genesis, a youth summer camp they started earlier this year.

“It was just this dream that he had,” Audrey said. “He was the biggest dreamer, but it wasn’t just like, ‘I’m going to do this,’ but he’s like, ‘I will do this,’ and we got it done.”

Loved ones are remembering Trey for his deep Christian faith, devotion to family and passion for sharing God’s love.

A GoFundMe campaign established to support Audrey describes him as a young man whose “confidence was unshakable and his faith unwavering.”

“His faith was his defining feature,” the fundraiser states. “They recognized that Trey’s faith and passion for advancing the Kingdom of God were at the center of his life.”

The fundraiser also remembers Trey as a devoted husband, loving brother to sisters Jaylah and Sylvia, and cherished son of Omar and Misty Lara.

As family and friends mourn his unexpected death, they lean on the faith that shaped his life and ministry.

Heavenly Father, we lift up Audrey, Trey’s family and everyone grieving this heartbreaking loss. Surround them with Your comfort, strengthen them through their sorrow and remind them of Your unfailing love. May they find peace and hope in Your promises, even in the midst of unimaginable pain. In Jesus’ name, Amen.