By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com

Members of the Colonel Crawford chapter of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America are reaching out through a teacher’s personal tragedy to help others.

The FCCLA is holding its second annual Steps for a Cure 5K with all proceeds going to the Caysen Joseph Clime Foundation. Caysen died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and was the son of Spanish teacher Danielle Clime.

“Our FCCLA, we started last year with our first 5K,” said Jordan Studer, the current president of the Colonel Crawford FCCLA.

Last year’s recipient of the 5K proceeds, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, was considered again. But Studer said it was decided to go in another direction – one that had a more personal involvement for the students and local community.

Studer talked about honoring their teacher by remembering her son.

“I think we all were just really willing to do something to help because we just knew how much it meant to Mrs. Clime, and how much it would mean to us if we had a child that had died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome,” Studer said. “So we would just really like to help and raise money, and help as much as we can.”

The Clime’s had another child on Tuesday.

“It’s going well,” Studer said of this year’s Steps for a Cure effort. “We haven’t had as many registrations as we had last year at this time, but we still have time.”

The Steps for a Cure 5K at Colonel Crawford is April 19 with pre-registration open through April 3. Registration forms are available at the high school office or on the district Web site (http://www.colonel-crawford.k12.oh.us/). Early registrations are $15 per runner and race-day registrations are $20. The race is open to anyone and awards will be given to the first overall male and female to finish and to the first three places in each age group.

“We would like to get as many runners as possible and raise as much money as possible to help the research.” Studer said. “If anyone would like to make a donation, they can get in touch with us.”

There are over 100 members in the Colonel Crawford FCCLA and many are involved in one way or another in this year’s 5K.

“She (Danielle Clime) was very thankful,” Studer said of the Spanish teacher when she learned SIDS research would be this year’s race beneficiary. “It was kind of like a God thing.”

Those with questions or who would like to donate to The Caysen Joseph Clime Foundation may contact Colonel Crawford FCCLA advisor Melanie Studer at 419-562-4666 or email her at studer.melanie@cck12.org