Help Courtney raise money

My name is Courtney Kaffenberger and my husbands name is Aaron. Together we have 3 children, Ian, Josie, and Aida. Josie is 19 and Aida is 13. On August 26^th, 2022, our lives changed forever. Just 4 days after turning 21, our son Ian passed away in his sleep from an unknown cause.

Ian was always an active athletic boy. From the time he could walk, he ran. He was one of the last kids in our neighborhood to learn how to ride his bike because he preferred to run everywhere he went.

Ian grew up running all the local road races and dominated the kids Bix every year. He ran his first 7 mile Bix race when he was 14 in a time of 46:47. He went on to run cross country and track for Pleasant Valley. In 2019 before entering his senior year of high school, he ran the Bix 7 in 38:38. He graduated in 2020 and went on to attend UNI where he was a member of the cross country and track teams before transferring to Iowa State University for his Junior year to study in their business program.

This year for Ian's 23rd heavenly birthday, I will be raising money in his memory for the kids in our community and Camp Shalom by collecting donations through the Quad City Marathon fundraising campaign.

Running has always been a part of my life.  My parents were both runners and I remember growing up among the running community here in the Quad Cities.  I participated in multiple road races all throughout my childhood and ran my first Bix 7 when I was 13 years old.   I went on to run cross country and track in high school.  As an adult, running and exercise has continued to be a big part of my life. Staying active has always been important to me.  I ran the Chicago Marathon in 2008 and again in 2019. I have also ran the Quad Cities ½ marathon once and have participated in the Quad City Marathon relay race.

Since losing Ian, grief has taken its toll on my body.  I've worked so hard on my mental and spiritual well being, however, my body remains in survival mode. Running the Quad City Marathon 10k in honor of my son, while raising money for one of his favorite places on earth, Camp Shalom, allows me the opportunity to do for my son while also doing for others. It gives me purpose and focus to get out there and move. Train. Run. It allows me to continue to love Ian, just differently. 

Camp Shalom is a faith based camp for kids and families situated among tall trees, woods, and open
prairie fields. Camp is filled with activity from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed!
Kids stay active on the woodland trails, with the high and low ropes challenge course initiatives, at the
archery range, canoeing, on the soccer field, campfire circles, swimming, exploring the caves, crafts,
and more! They are given opportunities to be creative and form relationships built on trust allowing
them to share and grow their faith in Christ.

Ian attended Camp Shalom through elementary, jr. high, and high school. He became an assistant
counselor summer of 2018 and again in 2019. He attended senior high camp in 2020 and then worked
as head counselor in 2020.

I want to do this race for Ian. I want to train for him, run for him, and be the very best version of myself for him. I won't be the fastest, I may even walk some. But I will finish. I will get the job done and I will run in honor of my son, Ian Michael Kaffenberger.

If you would like to support me and my efforts in raising money in memory of Ian, I would be forever grateful. Your gift of any amount will help support the kids in our community and Camp Shalom.