by Mollie Rushmeyer
news@thenewsleaders.com
The sixth annual Tanner’s Team Foundation 5K Walk/Run on June 25 is not only a fundraiser for families in central Minnesota with children experiencing life-threatening illnesses but a living legacy of a local child who lost his life to Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) in 2010.
Tanner Fuls, son of Cindy and John Huls of Sauk Rapids, was an active, healthy and vibrant boy who was unexpectedly diagnosed with MDS, a form of pre-leukemia, after the family noticed bruising on his body during the summer of 2010.
His treatments included chemotherapy, radiation and a bone-marrow transplant. Tanner rallied for a short time, during which he fulfilled his dreams of planting the flag on the ice before a Minnesota Wild game and meeting Brett Favre — even catching a pass from the famous football player.
After developing an infection Nov. 13, 2010, and then a drop in blood pressure and vitals on Nov. 27, however, Tanner passed away at the young age of 11 years old.
The following year, the Fuls family created the Tanner’s Team Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) organization, with the intent to help families struggling with the hardships of having a child with a life-threatening illness – something they knew all too well.
John Fuls, founder/CEO of Tanner’s Team Foundation John Fuls said, “We set out to help just the surrounding Central Minnesota counties. We are currently at 37 counties, 112 families helped through our grants since our beginning in 2011, and $80,000 has been disbursed to those families.”
“In 2016 alone,” Fuls went on to say, “we’ve already given out 19 grants.”
One thing Fuls says he’s particularly proud of is more than 90 percent of the proceeds from this event, their major fundraiser for the year, goes right back into helping the families as he and his wife, the board of directors and all those that give back to this organization are volunteers.
When applying for Tanner’s Team Foundation grants, families can expect a three- to four-day turnaround. The financial grants they typically assist with are mortgage payments, car payments, electric bills, medical bills and anything that has gone on to collection agencies.
Grants are generally around $800, and families can apply every 12 months. Fuls said they run the applications by their medical professional, Dr. Heather Stefanski, the chief medical officer who also treated Tanner, to assess whether they are considered life-threatening illnesses.
“It’s one way we can keep Tanner’s legacy alive,” Fuls said. “He would’ve been a senior this year, so it’s a bit of a hard year for us. But this is one way for us to pay it forward to those going through similar situations.”
The Tanner’s Team Foundation 5K (or 1K for kids) will be held Saturday, June 25 at Bob Cross Park in Sauk Rapids. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. The 1K Walk/Run (for ages 10 and under, and will earn credit for the CentraCare Blend Fit Kids Club) is at 8:30 a.m., and the adult 5K starts at 9 a.m.
Awards and door prizes will be given shortly after the last finisher. Last year’s race saw more than 289 adults cross the finish line, and they hope to see even more this year in order to help even more families in the coming year.
“There were so many people who helped us when we went through everything with Tanner,” Fuls said. “We just want to give back to the families of Central Minnesota when they need it most.”
The cost is $30 for adults and $15 for children. Registration can be done online before June 24 at www.tannersteam.org or by printing the registration form from the website and mailing it to: Tanner’s Team Foundation, 1706 Summit Place, Sauk Rapids, Minn. 56379
There’s also same-day registration at the event.
For more information or to become a business sponsor of the event, email tannersteamfoundation@gmail.com or call 320-761-0962 or 320-345-0843.
Tanner Fuls, the namesake and reason the Tanner’s Team Foundation exists, passed away in 2010 at age 11 from MDS, a form of pre-leukemia. His family created the Tanner’s Team Foundation to pass on financial assistance to families with children experiencing a life-threatening illness or injury.
At the fifth annual Tanner’s Team Foundation 5K/1K fundraiser in 2015, kids ages 10 and under line up for the 1K and shake hands with mascot TJ Bear, created and worn by Tanner’s sister, Maddie Fuls.
One of Tanner’s sisters, Maddie Fuls (right), 13, of Sauk Rapids, runs at last year’s race showing her support for the Tanner’s Team Foundation annual fundraiser.
People of all ages participate in Tanner’s Team Foundation’s 2015 adult 5K, part of a fundraiser for families in Central Minnesota with children experiencing life-threatening illnesses.
More than a leisurely stroll on a beautiful summer’s day, these families are out to support the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Tanner’s Team Foundation – the annual 5K/1K Walk/Run.
