5K run for Ryan unites young, old

PEA RIDGE — Their reasons for running were as varied as they were -

◊Anya Bruhin was Ryan Mondy’s first-grade teacher and pregnant with her son. She wanted to honor Ryan and runs so she can eat cookies.

◊Richard Gilliland, 73, had a heart valve replacement. He wanted to run and was joined byhis son-in-law and two granddaughters.

◊John Wells works with Chris Mondy and is a friend of the family.

◊Charles and Alice Crabtree brought up the rear with their Model A Ford. Charles had been fishing with Chris and expressed an interest in the race. He decided to drive the course and bring up the rear.

Ryan’s story

Ryan Mondy was 6 in November 2006 when he went to the doctor with what the family thought were sinus problems. Ultimately, he was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, an aggressive tumor in his brain.

Ryan had surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. He had a second surgery in February 2007.

Ryan died Easter morning, March 23, 2008.

In memory of Ryan

“I work with Chris Mondy andam friends of the family. I came out to show support for the family. We run when we have time.

This is my husband’s second 5K,” Carolyn Wells said. She and her husband, John, ran pushing a jogging stroller in which their 13-month-old son, John B. Wells, rode. “After we had him, we decided to run as a family.”

Bruhin, now the art teacher at the elementary school, was Ryan’s first-grade teacher. Said she would love to run more and would if there were a track in town. She began running in May 2010. She remembers being pregnant the year she taught Ryan and recalls how difficult it was to go through his illness and death.

Ryan’s mother, Andrea, said: “Yes, Ryan hated to be late for her (Mrs. Bruhin’s) class, but he had O.T. (occupational therapy) and P.T. (physical therapy) and would go in late.”

Richard Gilliland, 73, ran despite having a heart-valve replacement. His daughter, Tammy Laycox, was the photographer for the event. Her husband, Damon Laycox, is a teacher at Ambassadors for Christ Academy. Their daughters, Angela, 17, and Free-dom, 9, joined their father and grandfather in the 5K.

“Years ago, I wanted to see if I could do it,” Gilliland said.

D.A.S.H. stands for Doing Anything Supportive Helps.

Proceeds from the run benefit the Ryan Mondy D.A.S.H. Memorial Scholarship Endowment, a special scholarship through the Arkansas Community Foundation in Little Rock designed to help graduating seniors whose lives have been affected by cancer. It can be used for a cancer patient, cancer survivor or a sibling of a patient or survivor.