Race 4 Kelli

My father once asked my mother, after her 5th brain surgery, en route to another long, arduous stint in rehab, if she had grown exhausted with the terrible ordeal her life had become in recent years. Softly, with a smile, she replied, "In His time."

On Oct. 19, 2018, my mother, Kelli Eggers-Larson, ran into her Heavenly Father’s arms at the young age of 58 after a grueling 6-year battle with her brain tumor.

During her adult life, Mom was a runner, through and through. At 45 years old, she broke the tape of her first marathon and simultaneously qualified for the Boston Marathon, an elusive world major. She went on to conquer Boston's notorious Heartbreak Hill in consecutive years, including a top 10% finish amongst women in her category in 2006.

While marathons were an outlet for her competitive spirit, running served a greater purpose in Mom’s life. It was the source of several lifelong friendships and the vehicle through which she could pour into the lives of others as a volunteer for 'Girls on the Run’, a non-profit aimed at reaching girls at a critical stage, strengthening their confidence at a time when society begins to tell them “they can’t.”

Initially, my motive for running a race in her memory was to carry on her running legacy. However, Mom was far more than an accomplished marathoner, and the selective remembrance of her athletic achievements would be a grave injustice to the broader impact she had on our lives. She was driven, humble, generous, joyful, loving, and a role model to family, friends, women, and young girls in her community. Kelli was fearless; dedicated to her faith in Jesus, she embraced her suffering: "If one person got saved through my sickness, it would be worth it." Those that knew my mom know that she had a servant's heart, consistently placing the needs of others before her own - the volunteer of ALL volunteers.

In memory of my mother, I’ll be racing in the Crystal Cove 15K Trail Run on December 14, 2024. I have set the goal of raising $10k, including a personal match for 100% of donations (up to $10k), to support local Orange County charity, The Common Ground. If you feel it in your heart, help carry on my mom's efforts by donating (links below) to support the cause! For those looking to follow along the journey or receive further updates, please follow @race4kelli on Instagram.

Donation Links

Thank you so much and God bless!

Connor Larson