Letter to the Editor: 'Sundae' 5K Walk/Run at Graham's Is a Special Event

• Editor's note: This letter is from Jayni Wunderlich about the , which takes place from 8 to 10 a.m. Sunday at Island Park in Geneva. For more information, please visit the Graham's website. Packet pickup is 3 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 29, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Graham's Chocolates.

We've had a lot of interest in our 5K Run/Walk at Graham's this Sunday, and it's not just about running—there is a heartwarming story behind it.

We were approached by an event management company about doing a 5K race, and we loved the idea because a portion of the proceeds would go to a charity of our choosing.

My family started the Mikey Wunderlich Foundation last year to help provide medical care for my mother-in-law, Mikey Wunderlich, who was battling cervical cancer. When she passed away at the age of 52 in February of this year, we wanted to continue to raise money for cancer research and specifically for research to help find a cure for cervical cancer.

Mikey loved running, she competed in many 5Ks (at least one every other month or so) and even ran several Chicago half and full marathons, her last being the Chicago Marathon in October 2008, just before her diagnoses in March 2009. This race is for her. She loved Graham's, and she loved running, so this would have been a race she absolutely wouldn't have missed.

Attached is a photo of her and our family. Thank you for helping to spread the word not only about the Graham's Sundae 5K Race this Sunday, but also about the dangers of cervical cancer, and how it's not always treatable.

Last year, when mom couldn't walk very long or well and was confined to a wheelchair most of the time, she came to see a bunch of the family run the Hot Chocolate Run downtown last fall, and upon seeing people walking the race she CHECKED her wheelchair and walked the ENTIRE 5K! We were so scared for her, but she finished.

She lived by the motto, "Never Give Up." She never did.

This race is for her. She left behind four children, Matt (my husband), 29, Ben, 25, Alyssa, 24, and Tim, 22. We are heartbroken without her.

Thanks again for helping us share our story, and for helping us promote an event that is so dear to our hearts. 

Jayni Wunderlich
Graham's Chocolates, Geneva