More than 200 people took part in the Annual Caring for Kayleen Legacy 5k at Sportsmen’s Park in Clearwater Saturday morning.

 

It was the fifth year of the event, which raises funds for research and helping kids with cancer and other serious illnesses.

 

The event was started by Kayleen Larson’s neighbors in Clearwater as a way to help raise money for her  medical expenses.

 

At the time, Kayleen was being treated for AML Leukemia, a rare and deadly form of the disease.

 

Kayleen lost her battle on May 3, 2013 at the age on nine, and since that time, the 5k has not only been a fundraiser, but an event to remember the young girl who touched the hearts of people across the country.

 

Before Saturday’s 5k, Kayleen’s mother, Sarah, thanked the crowd.

 

“We’re so glad to live in this community, who keeps us standing at times when we feel we can’t stand any more,” she said. “They’ve been there over and over again to be our support system and to help keep Kayleen’s memory alive.”

 

Sarah said Kayleen would have graduated from sixth grade this year. In her memory, her sixth grade classmates had a picture board of Kayleen as part of their graduation ceremony earlier in the week.

 

“Every bereaved parent we’ve talked to, and we’ve met more than we should who have also lost their children to cancer and other things, their number one fear is that their kids are going to be forgotten,” she said. “You’re all here helping to keep those spirits alive.”

 

Sarah said this year’s focus of their foundation is past, prevention and play.

 

“The past - when we  were going though our journey with Kayleen, there were organizations that just came out of the woodwork which we didn’t even know existed to help support us,” she said.

 

She said the foundation continues to support organization like Blair’s Tree of Hope, Spare Key, Make a Wish Foundation, Pinky Square and Children’s Hospital that all help children.

 

“Prevent - I met a woman who worked for a big pharmaceutical company. She said there’s no profit in developing drugs for kids with cancer, so we really need to keep donating to those organizations who are out there doing that work,” she said. “It needs to be done.” 

 

“Play - that’s what Kayleen was all about. It didn’t matter where she was. It didn’t matter how sick she was. She just wanted to play. She wanted to be a kid,” said Sarah. “If you gave her a drink of something she’d take the biggest drink she could. If she had a cookie, she’d take the biggest bite she could. That’s the way she was with life. Whatever it was, she wanted all of it, and we want to carry that forward.”

 

Sarah thanked all the sponsors, volunteers, friends, neighbors and everyone who took part in the event. 

 

“There’s so much good that comes out of you being here,” she said. “This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we’ll keep doing this as long as you keeping coming here and keeping her spirit alive.”