5K honors memory of Naperville North student

For the past five years in late August, Elizabeth Bender has laced up her running shoes and hit the pavement.

She is never alone, though; last year more than 175 people accompanied her.

While the group comes together for a good time, it also gathers in support of a larger cause: the Kathryn Bender Memorial Foundation, or KBMF.

“We actually started (the event) because our family is really into just being outside and being together,” said Elizabeth, Kathryn’s older sister.

The Kathryn Bender 5K Walk/Run will be Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Naperville North High School track, 899 N. Mill St. Check-in and registration opens at 8:30 a.m. and the run begins at 9 a.m..

Kathryn, 17, died from Long QT syndrome during a dance recital on Nov. 20, 2005.

After Kathryn’s unexpected death, Elizabeth and her family set up KBMF to honor her memory and offer financial aid to others with Long QT syndrome.

“After she passed away, we started the foundation in hopes to prevent it from ever happening again,” said Elizabeth, who is also the president of KBMF.

Long QT syndrome is a “heart rhythm disorder that can potentially cause fast, chaotic heartbeats,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

Kathryn was a senior at Naperville North High School at the time of her death. She was passionate about music as well as theater and planned to study elementary education at Northern Illinois University the following year.

For many people, such as Kathryn, who are diagnosed with Long QT syndrome, there are no signs or symptoms of the disorder.

All proceeds from the event will be used to purchase EKG machines for the Midwest Heart Foundation’s “Young Hearts 4 Life” program. The group travels to more than 40 high schools every two years to screen students for potential heart conditions.

“There are 2 percent to 3 percent of kids that are screened who have to have some sort of follow-up with their regular physician, so it’s not anything to joke around with at all,” Elizabeth said.

So far the foundation, which began in 2006, has screened more than 62,000 students.

KBMF has purchased three portable EKGs for the organization through various fundraisers and Elizabeth hopes the event will draw more than 200 people this year so a fourth machine can be purchased.