Clara's Run will celebrate the light that she brought into all of our lives. Presented by the Bergen Family, Coronado PTO, Higley Unified School District, and StartLine Racing, the event will take place on Saturday, November 14th from Clara's school - Coronado Elementary. Proceeds from the event will go to two of Clara's favorite things - her school (Higley Unified School District and Coronado Elementary) and animals (the Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA).
Clara was a happy, fun-loving,
eight-year-old girl who died unexpectedly in May of 2015. She loved her
friends, family, and pets very much and she was truly passionate about
baking, dancing, reading, and playing. Clara liked to have fun and
wanted you to have fun too.
The theme of Clara’s Run is “Love is
Forever.” Clara wrote this message on a piece of paper a few weeks
before her death and left it in a desk drawer. Her family found it just
after Clara died and it serves to remind us of Clara’s spirit.
During her last year of life, she ran
three 5km races, checked out 237 books from her school library,
practiced day and night for her first dance recital, and enjoyed classes
at our local animal shelter. Since her death, Clara’s donated organs
and tissues have benefited at least two other families by giving two
women the gift of sight with the possibility of helping others through
the Arizona Donor Network.
Her 9th birthday would be on November
25 and we thought combining some of her interests into a fun-run would
be a great way to honor and remember her birthday.
Clara’s Run will be a celebration!
It will be a time for friends and families to be active together,
enjoying the beautiful November weather, and having fun. Clara would be
very excited to plan for the fun and games at the finish line, design
the medals, and the recipes for the cupcakes that each finisher will
enjoy.
Thank you so much for participating
with this event. We are incredibly thankful for our community of
friends and family. You’ve shown us so much love and helped us survive
these last few months. We couldn’t have done it without you.
Laura, Andy, and Lily Bergen
