Chasing Rainbows – 1st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Gold Run 5K with Friends of Mia

friends of mia
Rainbows are unofficial mascots of this weekend's 1st Annual St. Patrick's Day Gold 5K.
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o'blarneys irish pubMembers of the Thurston County community will be running for rainbows during the 1st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Gold Run 5K this weekend. The runner’s sights are set not only on the finish line but also on a pot of gold that will go to a very worthy cause – Friends of Mia.

“Casey and I are Mia’s parents and founded the organization shortly after Mia passed in 2012,” explains co-founder and mother, LeLani Benavente. She got sick when she was 2. Mia was diagnosed with High Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. We created the foundation to help offset our medical expenses and help raise awareness to childhood cancer.”

After a three year battle with cancer, sadly, Mia passed away in 2012. “We wanted to keep the foundation going in honor of her memory. There are so many families in our area dealing with childhood illnesses. We want to help connect to these families and continue to support the fight against cancer.”

friends of mia
Runners will take their mark at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 14 to raise money for Friends of Mia.

Part of supporting that fight is by creating fundraisers like the St. Patrick’s Day Gold Run 5K. “We want to engage our community,” explains Benavente. “Mia got sick in March of 2009 so this event really ties back to that moment in our lives. I remember her eating a green bagel she was in isolation at the hospital. This run is something anyone can be a part of to help bring awareness and raise money for cancer research.”

All of the money raised during the run will go directly to Seattle Children’s Childhood Cancer Research. “That hospital and those doctors did so much for us,” says Benavente. “There are so many children here, in town, dealing with treatment. We are raising money to help fund research into t-cell therapy. It is a very new treatment but it could eliminate chemotherapy. It has fewer side effects which can make a big difference in a child’s life. It means a lot to us to be able to fund that continued effort.”

The goal of the run isn’t just the funds raised, but overall awareness in our community. “Awareness is super important to us,” adds Benavente.  “We want people to know there are resources and they aren’t alone. We hear about new kids that are diagnosed and try to embrace their families. We want to try to help them through it. We want the community to know about these families and embrace them as well.”

friends of mia
Rainbows are unofficial mascots of this weekend’s 1st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Gold 5K.

The family friendly race will start from O’Blarney’s Irish Pub rain or shine. “During Mia’s service we were able to see a double rainbow. It reminded me of Mia’s beautiful spirit. Ever since then, rainbows really speak to our family. If it rains this weekend, we won’t just be running, will be hunting for rainbows.”

Friends of Mia Presents: The 1st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Gold Run 5K on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Faster Runners start at 8:30 a.m. with joggers, walkers, and strollers beginning at 8:40 a.m. Last minute registration includes a Green Beer (21+w/ID) at O’Blarney’s and a raffle ticket for prizes.

Registration is $30.00 for adults and $7.00 for kids ages 12 and under.

All proceeds will benefit Friends of Mia and support Childhood Cancer Research Seattle Children’s Hospital.

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