More than 225 people took part in the sixth annual Caring for Kayleen 5k walk/run Saturday at Sporstman’s Park in Clearwater.

 

The event raises funds for cancer research and helping kids with cancer and other serious illnesses.

 

The 5k event was started by Kayleen Larson’s neighbors in Clearwater to help cover medical expenses for Kayleen, who at the time  was being treated for AML Leukemia.

 

Kayleen lost her battle on May 3, 2013 at the age on nine. Now the event not only raises money and awareness about AML Leukemia, it has become an annual meetingplace for those who followed Kayleen’s battle.

 

Before the start of the 5k Saturday, Kayleen’s mother, Sarah, spoke about how the event has brought people together for the cause.

 

“I miss Kayleen every day, all day. There are days when that’s the only part of the story I can feel,” she said. “But then I have days like this when I’m able to remember the gifts Kayleen left me with. Even today there’s so much bad news out there. But I get to come here and see the very best in people. And I get to see people coming out to help people they don’t know and might never know. Kayleen, thank you for that gift.”

 

She spoke about the money the Kayleen Larson Legacy Foundation has been able to donate to fight AML and to make life a bit easier for kids with cancer and their families.

 

They were able to give $6,000 to the Star Studio, an in-house closed circuit TV station at Children’s Hospital. The main character of the show is called the “Dude.”

 

“Kids are couped up in their hospital room. They’re getting pumped full of medicine. They can’t see their friends. People are coming in to poke and prod and get their vitals all the time,” said Sarah. “Here they get to take a break for a little while. They get to call in, play games, and then if they’re lucky, the Dude himself will bring their prize up to them.”

 

“I can tell you from experience what that can mean. I’ve heard from many other parents whose children are being treated at the hospital, that might be the first and only time that day they see their kids smile,” she said. 

 

They also donated $2,000 to Tanner’s Team Foundation, an organization formed in 2011 to assist families who have children with life-threatening illnesses.

 

“Quite often, if there’s two parents in the family, one of them is not working because their child is demanding a lot of attention and time. So you have loss of income and coupled with that the mounting medical bills,” said Sarah. “You might have a parent wondering how they’re going to pay their mortgage and if they’re going to keep their house. That’s where Tanner’s Team will step in.”

 

They also made a big donation to the Beat AML Campaign, the deadly form of leukemia that took Kayleen’s life.

 

Sarah said because it is not as common, there hasn’t been a lot of investment or research and treatment for AML.

 

The Lukemia Lymphoma Society started Beat AML to fund research and treatment specifically for that type of cancer.

 

“Someday, there’s going to be another family with a child diagnosed with AML and the treatment is going to be much easier, the side effects are going to be much smoother and that child is going to grow up to be old and productive,” said Sarah. “You being here and helping us provide that support means the world  to those kids and families.”