2018 Big Heart 5K to feature its first virtual transatlantic run & walk Aug. 18
The Kristoffer Larsen Big Heart Memorial Foundation has announced that the second annual Big Heart 5K on Saturday, Aug. 18, will have two new additions.
The 5K will be expanded with a virtual transatlantic run and walk. It will be one race in two locations with synchronized start and timing. The locations are at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles, with a 9 a.m. start time and in Folkeparken in Harstad, Norway with a start time of 4 p.m. Central European Time. This will be your opportunity to compete with someone from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Also added is a 2K course at LeRoy Oakes for youth, age 14 or younger who prefer a shorter course.
"We are very excited by the new additions to the Big Heart 5K, and we believe that this is the first virtual transatlantic 5K race. The Kristoffer Larsen Big Heart Memorial Foundation was established in April 2017 with the vision of preventing sudden cardiac death in youth. The foundation is in honor of our son Kristoffer, who was 22 years old when he passed away from an undetected heart condition in May of 2016," said Tormod Larsen, the co-founder of the Kristoffer Larsen Big Heart Memorial Foundation.
"Kristoffer was born and also passed away in Harstad, but he had lived in Geneva since 2005; so the race symbolizes the two most important cities in his life."
The Kristoffer Larsen Big Heart Memorial Foundation has teamed up with Chicago Race Management & Timing to provide a professional race experience including synchronized chip timing for the 5K participants. Sign up at bigheart5k.itsyourrace.com to participate in this cool experience and if you sign up prior to Wednesday, Aug. 1, you are guaranteed a race T-shirt and the legendary "Kristoffer Socks" that he wore at races for good luck.
The proceeds from the event will help the continued efforts to ensure a recurring cardiac screening program at Geneva High School, funding of cardiac screenings at other schools and colleges, increased awareness of sudden cardiac deaths in youth including statewide/global awareness programs and the to support of large scale sudden cardiac death prevention programs including specific research.
On Feb. 1, 1,488 Geneva High School students were provided a free cardiac screening as a result of funds provided by the Kristoffer Larsen Big Heart Memorial Foundation. The screening detected seven students with abnormal EKG readings.
If you are interested in donating or being a sponsor, contact kristofferbigheart@gmail.com or go to the donation website at www.kristofferbigheart.org.
The Kristoffer Larsen Big Heart Memorial Foundation (go.cffrv.org/Kristoffer) is a component fund of the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, an Illinois nonprofit corporation and a charitable organization described in sections 501(c) (3) and 170(b) (1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code. The foundation was established in April 2017 by the Larsen family of Geneva, with the vision of preventing sudden cardiac death in youth in honor of Kristoffer Larsen, the oldest son and sibling, who in May 2016 at age 22 passed suddenly from an undetected heart condition. Visit www.kristofferbigheart.org or www.facebook.com/kristofferbigheart/.