In the midst of a tragedy, it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s difficult to see anything positive about the situation while navigating through grief and sleepless nights. The family and friends of Lauren Kiefer have gone through this process and can testify that good things can come from a horrible event.

Kiefer, an Oakbrook Terrace resident and Willowbrook High School graduate, was killed on Christmas Day 2006. The Lauren Kiefer Memorial Foundation was established to honor this kind, compassionate and giving person and continues to celebrate her life through helping others.

The second annual “Remembering Lauren 5K Run/Walk” will be held on Saturday, June 21, at Willowbrook High School, 1250 S. Ardmore Ave., Villa Park. Lauren was a fitness enthusiast, and to honor her with a 5K run is most appropriate, according to event organizers.

Lauren’s mother Janice Kiefer, is helping organize the race.

“We had over 1,000 runners and walkers and more than 200 volunteers came out last year to honor Lauren. With it being our first year, and despite the pouring rain, the 5K was a total success. The cooperation of the community, co-workers, friends and family was wonderful. The outpouring of love and support was overwhelming,” she said.

The race will include entertainment, raffle prizes, a children’s race, massage booths, free water and Gatorade and other refreshments. The cost is $25 per person, and people are encouraged to pre-register to get a commemorative T-shirt. Children 12 and younger are free with a paid adult.

The race takes off from Willowbrook’s parking lot on Ardmore Avenue and heads East on Riordan Road, North on Euclid Avenue and back to the Willowbrook campus, with the finish on the school’s running track. Runners’ bib tags will be pulled at the finish line, and their individual results will be posted online at www.chicagoaa.com. Last year’s winning time was 17:03.

Willowbrook staff have been instrumental in helping plan the race again this year.

“I’ve worked at Willowbrook for 15 years. They have been so generous in letting us use the grounds. The athletic director and the assistant athletic director have mapped the course, along with Beth Gray, our race specialist. The maintenance crew also gives freely of their time in executing the day,” Kiefer said.

The Lauren Kiefer Memorial Foundation has raised over $50,000 from last year’s race and from generous donations throughout the year and has awarded two Willowbrook seniors a $5,000 scholarship to the university, college or trade school of their choice. Willowbrook staff voted for seniors who possess Lauren’s traits, such as a zest for life, effervescent personality, compassion to others, strong involvement in Willowbrook and community activities and maintaining a 3.0 grade-point average.

Six students were nominated, and the scholarship recipients were announced at the athletic banquet on May 28. (As of press time, winners’ names were unknown. I will announce them in a future column).

The foundation has also donated to many other charitable organizations, including The Love of McKenna Foundation; Parents of Murdered Children, DuPage Chapter; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; The Timothy Grobert Foundation; and the York Center Food Pantry.

To register for the race, go to signmeup.com, register in person at Willowbrook High School or mail in your registration.