I rolled into the parking lot bright and early at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus to take photos of the 5K Fun Run/Walk that is supporting Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) trooper Bonnie Kunz’s fight against breast cancer. Held on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 8 a.m., Officer David Antonsen greeted me with a warm smile.
Antonsen introduced me to Bonnie, who was in high spirits. We shook hands, and she welcomed me to the race.
I took some candid photographs of participants mingling with Bonnie. Walking around gave me a sense of support that ran through the crowd.
Bonnie couldn’t race the whole race, but was willing to start the race in thanks for all the support she had received.
She is going into her fourth treatment determined to beat this terrible disease that takes so many love ones always from us – the good, the bad and the innocent. She has the resilience of a trooper fighting the good fight. She even acted like she was finishing the race in stride.
The fundraiser was a success raising over $3,900.00 between the race and online support. Second place winner, Sammy Vandongen, was a third of the age of the first place winner, Timothy Gustafson. Justin Bolton came in third. Every contestant who crossed the finish line was given a medallion for finishing the race. In this fight, it isn’t about winning or losing. It’s about finishing strong.
Donations are being accepted until Oct. 1 at www.bit.ly/HelpBonnie.
All photos by SLCC Photographer Jimmie Breedlove
