A Mother's Promise

My last post, albeit brief, was about a memorial run that has taken place at Clark College for six years. While the run is held in memory of a remarkable young man, Kalani Rodrigues, I really want to talk about his incredible mom, Lori Jimerson. (You can read an article about Kalani and this year's run here.)

In December of 2004, I started working at the Clark College Foundation. I recall that in the first batch of emails I read as a brand new employee, there was an email about the passing of the son of two college employees (Lori and her husband, Skip). A few months later, I was fortunate to be part of the Foundation team that worked with Lori as she fulfilled her promise to Kalani to create a walk or run to bring awareness to brain cancer.

From when I first met Lori, I was impressed with her fortitude and determination to see Kalani's vision of a K-Rod run become a reality. Though her son had lost his battle just a few months earlier, Lori never sought sympathy or pity for her loss. Instead, she was focused on creating a walk/run that would bring to fruition Kalani's desire to ensure that brain cancer is not a lost cause.

Despite the challenges faced the first year and in the ensuing years, Lori has always been calm, even serene, as she has managed details big and small. She appreciates any contributions that people make to this memorial event - be it a kind word, a small monetary donation to the scholarship set up in Kalani's name, or a volunteer's time. In the face of doubters or naysayers, Lori responds with grace to thank them for their time or suggestions.

This year as I joined a volunteer meeting, Lori impressed me yet again as she shared from her heart some of the decisions the family has had to make about the nature and purpose of the event. What she made clear is that at the forefront of her mind is what Kalani would want or expect of the event. Lori is holding to her promise to her son that there would be a K-Rod Run and she is keeping it true to what Kalani envisioned.

I did not have the good fortune to know Kalani, but from my years of involvement with this event and in becoming friends with Lori, I feel like I do know him. Kalani was the best of human nature--kind, determined, fun-loving, generous, caring--and his impact on so many people and lives continues to grow. It is a testament to the young man he was that so many people come out to support the Kalani Rodrigues Memorial Walk/Run. It is a testament to his mother's commitment to keep her promise to him that Kalani's legacy lives on.