METAMORA, Ohio — On a still, quiet evening they gathered by the dozens, determined to show they will not be afraid to walk the roads of their community.

The crowd met Tuesday at Evergreen High School to walk County Road 6, where Sierah Joughin was biking when she was abducted and killed two weeks ago. 

Many described their community as one that, until recently, was safe. They want to feel safe again.

“This is part of the healing right here, this is why we’re doing it,” said Metamora resident Kathy Boger, who organized the “Take Back Our Roads” event.

IN PICTURES: Take Back Our Roads

Joggers, walkers, bikers, and kids in strollers traveled the cornfield-lined road together. 

It represented a show of solidarity with Ms. Joughin and her family after two weeks of horror and heartbreak.

The 20-year-old Metamora woman, who was entering her junior year at the University of Toledo, disappeared July 19 while on a bike ride in rural Fulton County. 

Her purple bicycle was discovered in a field, surrounded by trampled corn and signs of a struggle, after her mother reported her missing. Her remains were discovered in a cornfield July 22.

Charged in her abduction and murder is James D. Worley, 57, who remains held without bond at Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio.

It was the second “Take Back Our Roads” gathering since Ms. Joughin’s disappearance. Ms. Boger said she would like it to become a weekly practice that expands to neighboring communities. The first walk drew more than 250 people, she said. She estimated Tuesday’s turnout to be even larger.

“This is to be a support system for everyone and each other,” she said. “We’re doing it for her. We want to walk the roads she felt safe on.”

Several “Cycle for Ce” T-shirts, using Ms. Joughin’s nickname, peppered the crowd. Teens, parents with young families, and a few dogs all made the more than two-mile trip along County Road 6. On their walk, they passed the home of Ms. Joughin’s family.

“This hit everybody, not just in our immediate community but the surrounding communities,” Ms. Boger said, pointing out attendees from nearby Delta, Berkey, and Lyons.

Danielle Mason, Ms. Boger’s daughter and a middle school special education teacher at Evergreen, said it’s a way to support Ms. Joughin’s family and return to a routine.

“I run outside every single day, four miles from where she was abducted,” she said. “I haven’t been running outside since this happened. Now’s my chance to get it done and feel safe and comfortable with everyone.”

Tyler Kleeberger, pastor at Metamora United Methodist Church, which meets at the school, said the church feels called to help the community heal in whatever way it can.

In a prayer he led before participants took off, he asked for the community to come together and to remember Ms. Joughin and her family.

Tuesday’s outing was one of several efforts in recent days to memorialize Ms. Joughin. More are scheduled, such as a “Joggin’ 4 Joughin 5K” run/​walk and bike ride on Oct. 2 at Evergreen High School, from which Ms. Joughin graduated in 2014.

A memorial scholarship in her name has been established with the Toledo Community Foundation.

Contact Lauren Lindstrom at llindstrom@theblade.com, 419-724-6154, or on Twitter @lelindstrom.

First Published August 3, 2016, 4:00 a.m.