More than 125 people gathered at Sportsman’s Park on Clearwater Saturday morning for the seventh annual Kayleen Larson Legacy 5K Family Fun Run/Walk.

The event was started by Kayleen’s neighbors in Clearwater as a way to help raise money for her medical expenses while she was being treated for AML, a rare and deadly form of leukemia.

Nine-year old Kayleen lost her battle in May 2013. Since that time the event has continued not only as a way to bring people together to remember Kayleen, but to help raise money to fight childhood diseases.             Today, Kayleen Larson Legacy Foundation makes gifts to organizations and foundations who support children and their families in their fight against life-threatening illnesses  

This year, the foundation held a spaghetti dinner, silent auction and raffle at the Clearwater Legion Friday evening.

Saturday morning, before the 5k began, Kayleen’s mother Sarah, addressed the crowd.

The foundation was able to do a number of things this year, including buying special mobile units for babies at the St. Cloud Hospital pediatric unit.

They helped support the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization that funds research for childhood cancer.

“Childhood cancer doesn’t get enough funding,” she said. “There’s not a lot of money to be made in curing childhood cancer. We really need private organizations doing the work, and St. Baldrick’s is a really big player in that market.”

The foundation also partnered with the Children’s Cancer Fund at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. 

“As you can image, it’s expensive for parents who have kids who are staying at the hospital. They still have to for their mails. They have to pay for their parking,” she said. “This fund is money for the parents to take care of those things. It helps relieve some of the financial burden.”

She introduced Taylor, a young girl who met Kayleen during treatment. Taylor, a little older than Kayleen, was being treated for bone cancer at the time, and was a friend and mentor to Kayleen.

The crowd listened as she played guitar and sang about Kayleen.

When she was finished, the participants prepared for the run.

Sarah thanked everyone again.

 “We enjoy being able to give back, and we appreciate all the support we get from all of you. That’s what makes it possible,” she said. “We always tell people that the donation comes through us, but it comes from all of you.”