Hunter’s Heroes 5K event will benefit Fort Cherry teacher’s 6-year-old son
A 5K will be held Sunday for 6-year-old Hunter Kramer, who was diagnosed with a rare gene mutation.
The Kramer family, from left, Barrett, Beth, Hunter and Brent, plans to purchase an accessible van so they can continue to provide opportunities to Hunter.
Hunter Kramer’s heroes don’t have super powers. They haven’t saved the world. Some of them may not even run that fast.
But the participants in Hunter’s Heroes fourth annual Bubbles and Brews 5K at Settlers Cabin Park in Collier Township will help to make the 6-year-old’s world a little bigger.
“We love to give him experiences,” said Hunter’s dad, Brent Kramer, a teacher in Fort Cherry School District. “That’s why this race came about.”
The event will be held at 8 a.m. Sunday, and will help the family purchase adaptive equipment for Hunter, who was born with GRIN1, a gene mutation that causes low muscle tone, developmental delays, visual impairment, seizures and digestive issues.
The mutation is extremely rare. When Hunter was diagnosed, doctors told his parents, Brent and Beth Kramer of Carnegie, he was one of about six people known to have it.
Though Hunter doesn’t speak, he is able to communicate.
“If he’s starting to get uncomfortable, he’ll let us know,” Brent said. “He shows joy really well. He likes being a part of the group.”
“He’s found his way to talk to us,” added Brent’s mother, Jan Kramer of Hickory.
Hunter’s parents try to provide as many opportunities to their sons as possible. Their youngest son, Barrett, was born 16 months ago.
“Hunter loves hockey games. He loves the excitement. If you talk to him, it takes him about 30 seconds, and he’ll smile and draw his eyes to you. He loves fishing,” Brent said. “Barrett climbs all over him, and (Hunter) doesn’t mind – most of the time.”
Family members started the 5K in 2014 in Clarion. It was then moved to Beaver, and is now held in Allegheny County. Brent is hoping that after this year’s event, the family can purchase adaptive equipment – specifically, an accessible van – which will help them transport Hunter, who weighs about 60 pounds, to all of the places they want to go.
In addition to the cost of the van, the cost to have a van equipped is about $20,000.
Brent’s goal is to be able to purchase the vehicle and make payments comparable to a car payment.
“It’s difficult to get him in and out (of a vehicle.) It makes you not stop places,” Brent said. “If there are two of us, one stays in the car. Lifting him is getting more difficult. It’s uncomfortable for us and for Hunter. We want to be able to go to the park just like an average family.”
The event has grown every year, with about 100 participants the first year and about 300 last year. Those who don’t want to walk or run in the 5K can be a part of Hunter’s Bubble Brigade, blowing bubbles at the finish line, or volunteering at registration or concessions.
“I get self-conscious because people do so much for us, I don’t want to ask for more,” Brent said. “But (a cousin) reminded me that it’s a celebration of Hunter.”
This year’s race will be chip timed. Medals will be awarded to the top three runners in each age group. There will be a DJ, auction and raffle. After the race, all runners over the age of 21 can sample craft beer from Coal Tipple Brewery, which is located near Burgettstown.
“The support has been huge,” Brent said. “It’s a tedious life, but we don’t sit around and say, ‘Woe is me.’ When this race happens, the number of people who get involved – it gives us so much energy to keep making his life the best it can be. I would hate to see the event end, even if we don’t have a goal, just because I want to see everyone come out for Hunter.”
Hunter, who is enrolled in the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, receives multiple therapies and learned to flip a switch on command to play a recording about his day. But it’s his family who says they are learning the most.
“Hunter has taught us so much,” said Brent’s father, David Kramer. “It’s the little things that matter.”
Those who are not registered for the 5K should arrive at 7:15 a.m. Sunday. For more information, visit www.huntersheroes.org.