Nashville girl with big heart organizes 'fun run' for cancer awareness

When Clara Danforth learned that two of her family's friends were diagnosed with cancer, she immediately came up with a way to help – she started organizing a "fun run" to raise money.

Larry Danforth, Clara's dad, said explaining cancer to their daughter wasn't easy.

"We started praying for one (of our family friends), then we started praying for another," he said. "And then we tried to explain to an 8-year-old exactly what cancer is. It's kind of difficult."

Clara understood, and soon she was getting support from her church, school and even Nashville Mayor Donald Street.

Friday's fun run is the result, and all of the money raised will go to support the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

"They are going to start right over here and then they are going to walk all the way around the park," Clara said, describing the route participants will take at Glover Park. "There is going to be cake and fire trucks and police cars, and there's going to be a lot more things."

Street said Clara has been on a "crusade by herself" to raise awareness and support.

"When I first heard about this thing, I said ,'Well, ho-hum, here comes something else.'" he said. "But she is really serious about this, and she's got the whole town excited."

Admission to Friday's fun run, which begins at 7 p.m., is $5. Clara's goal is to raise $1,000.

"I'm just really happy that I've got lots of people signed up, and I'm really happy that I'm helping people with cancer," she said.

Larry Danforth said he and his wife couldn't be prouder.

"I want to her to see that age doesn't matter. As long as you put your heart and your mind to something, you can accomplish it," he said.