We, the Comrades of Unit 1012 will remember Kelli O’Laughlin on April 2 and October 27 every year. She will be
one of The
82 murdered children of Unit 1012, where we will not forget her. Unit 1012
encourage everybody to donate and show support Kelli Joy O’Laughlin Memorial Fund.
Let us remember her this year by posting the success of
her organization:
Indian Head Park parents’ 6-year mission
of ‘spreading joy’ after young daughter’s death
We often
share with you families’ tears, sadness and anger in the hours and days after
the murder of a loved one. What you don’t often see is what can happen in
the months and years that follow that loss.
“You
can’t bring Kelli back so what we’re trying to do is keep her memory alive,”
said John O’Laughlin.
John's
daughter Kelli was murdered in 2011 in Indian Head Park when she came home from
school and interrupted a burglary. Kelli’s mom believes keeping her daughter’s
memory alive is part of her own healing process.
“If
I didn’t have this to keep me going, if it wasn’t for her, I probably wouldn’t
be sitting here today,” said Brenda O’Laughlin.
In the months
and years that followed their daughter’s death, the O’Laughlins have tirelessly
worked to honor Kelli’s memory. They created a foundation that’s raised
more than $359,000 and awarded 56 college scholarships. It’s also paid
for kids to attend Kelli’s favorite summer camp, Camp Tecumseh. They’ve
paid for uniforms for Lyons Township High School athletic teams and delivered
toys to the Ronald McDonald House.
They’ve used
Kelli’s middle name “Joy” as their inspiration.
“We
want people to remember her for good and joy,” John
O’Laughlin said. “We want that to be the memory and not
that a poor little girl was murdered in her house. That’s how we started but
that’s not where we want to end up.”
The
O’Laughlins say they’ve been overwhelmed by the support they’ve received from
friends and strangers alike. Among them, a street department foreman from
Hobart, Indiana.
“Never in my
life did I ever run until I did the first run for Kelli,” Scott Cummings said.
He started
running five years ago and has now logged more than 100 races in Kelli’s
honor.
Cummings
didn’t know Kelli – or her family - but he’s a father who says he was
heartbroken as he watched news coverage of Kelli’s murder. When he heard
her family was sponsoring a run in her honor the next year, he felt called to
join. He’s been running ever since.
“Every
time I would run, her name would go across the finish line with me and I felt
like she was with me sometimes by doing that.”
Cummings
likes to say "he never finishes first, but he always finishes
inspired."
“When
I run the races I always think of Brenda never giving up. All that she’s
gone through and she’s never given up. I feel the same when I run. I’ve
never given up on a race yet,” he says.
It’s one more
way Kelli’s parents can still find “joy” despite their pain.
“Without
the connection of the surrounding community I would fall apart,”
Kelli’s mom said. “So for me, to run away from
something like this, no. If I ran away that means the perpetrator, that’s what
I’ll call him, he would have won. And there was no way he was going to
win.”
For more
information or to donate you can visit kellijoyolaughlinmemorialfund.com
INTERNET SOURCE: http://wgntv.com/2017/09/25/parents-six-year-mission-of-spreading-joy-after-unimaginable-loss/
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Many Faces of heart
emoticon Kelli Joy O'Laughlin heart emoticon
Whether Kelli was dressed up for a play, trying on dresses for homecoming, getting ready for a tennis match, doing her hair up for crazy hair day at school, going to a bulls game or just making bubbles while at a park,Kelli was happy with life! Kelli loved the camera and people! That is why we now need Justice for Kelli as there are no new pictures or new memories! |
To the family and loved ones of KJO:
We will not forget your
daughter. The
good thing was that we learn a lot about the foundation. We learn about how you
all treasure someone even when they are gone from the earth. If you notice in
our blogs, we always encourage people to donate and support your foundation and
go for the Run For Kelli.
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