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Sign up for Big Heart 5K Run/Walk honoring Kristoffer Larsen

The Kristoffer Larsen Big Heart Memorial Foundation was established to honor the memory of Kristoffer Larsen who suffered a sudden cardiac death on May 27, 2016, at age 22.

On Saturday, Aug. 19, the Big Heart Memorial Foundation will hold its first Big Heart 5K Run and Walk at 10 a.m. at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W700 Dean St. in St. Charles.

They will be using the 3-mile high school cross-country course at LeRoy Oakes. It will take you through various terrain, making it a fun and challenging course for runners and walkers of all ages.

Kristoffer was born in Harstad, Norway in 1993. After living in Norway and Texas, the family moved to Geneva in 2005 where he attended Geneva Middle School South and Geneva High School as part of the graduating class of 2012.

He was an active cross-country and long distance track runner at Geneva High School and Waubonsee Community College where he attended his first two years of college. He enjoyed the friendships and team camaraderie among these wonderful young people. After Waubonsee, he started Northern Illinois University where he was in the process of finishing his studies in corporate and organizational communication. He was an active board member of the NIU chapter of the American Marketing Association.

During weekends and holidays, Kristoffer worked at the Greenfields of Geneva retirement community. He enjoyed working with people, and it appeared that many of the residents engaged in conversations about the fact that he was Norwegian. He also had an internship at ExteNet with the marketing department.

In May 2016, during a visit to his grandparents' home in Harstad, he passed away in his sleep. He had a hidden heart condition called cardiomyopathy where the long-term effects include a growing and enlarged heart.

Sign up online by Wednesday, Aug. 1, for $20 for individuals or $15 for teams of 10 or more. Late registrations might be accepted, but at a higher rate. Register now to make sure you get a pair of the Norwegian flag socks that Kristoffer Larsen used when racing. The first 100 registrants are guaranteed to receive a pair.

This event will raise money for the Big Heart Memorial Foundation's mission of preventing sudden cardiac death in youth. They are currently working to establish a recurring free cardiac screening program for Geneva High School students, with the first screening already scheduled for Feb. 1, 2018.

The cardiac screening will be done in collaboration with Young Hearts for Life, www.YH4L.org, the largest cardiac screening program in the United States.

"We'd like the Big Heart 5K to embrace the various meanings of Big Heart, as all of them are applicable in honoring our son Kristoffer," said Kristoffer's father, Tormod Larsen.

"Sign up today to show your Big Heart and support us in preventing sudden cardiac death in young adults."

By participating in the Big Heart 5K, you will help raise awareness and funds for this important cause.

For more information or registration for the 5K, visit go.cffrv.org/Kristoffer.

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