Old Lyme — For the past five years, community members have gathered at a race to honor Caroline O'Brien, a little girl who wanted to brighten the lives of others.

Each year at the annual fundraiser for Caroline's Miracle Foundation, hundreds of participants have lined up in the early morning hours at the starting line and crossed the finish line amid cheers.

One year, runners adorned their hair in silly ways for the "crazy hair" run. Another time, a young boy learned to play "Sweet Caroline" on the drums and passed out lyrics so participants could sing along.

"It's really quite amazing to see our community go out year after year to support Caroline's wish," said Jennifer O'Brien, Caroline's mother.

Caroline, a happy-go-lucky girl from Old Lyme, helped start the foundation, so children with brain tumors or other serious illnesses could enjoy themselves. Caroline passed away from a brain tumor in 2010 at age 11.

This year's event, the 5K run, 5K walk and kids K for Caroline's Miracle Foundation on Saturday will mark the last run. But the foundation's work — which has so far given 78 children "mini-miracles" to have fun — will continue, O'Brien said.

Goofy and carefree, Caroline was the oldest of four children and a fantastic sister to her younger siblings, Emily, Brendan and Abby, O'Brien said.

She was also a great student who enjoyed playing sports and was so social that her mother used to joke that "the sidelines" were her favorite position.

"She just knew the importance of making the most of the time that you have," O'Brien said.

Caroline — who had been diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma — and her family started the foundation. The mission of her parents, Jennifer and Michael, originally was to find a cure for the cruel tumor that was robbing her of her abilities and balance, O'Brien said.

"We wanted to let her know that we were doing everything we could for her," she said.

But it was Caroline who came up with an idea that became the foundation's goal.

"She said to us: 'We need to help kids with brain tumors do really fun things,'" O'Brien said.

The family searched through Caroline's artwork to find a logo for the foundation, but Caroline again had another idea. Though her fine motor skills had weakened, she was able to use her fingers on an iPad's touch screen to draw a smiley face, an icon that became the foundation's logo, O'Brien said.

"It was pretty amazing," O'Brien said. "It was her message to us. She knew it would be her legacy."

The volunteer-run foundation has sent teenagers on shopping sprees and helped a 12-year-old girl from Avon meet the Cake Boss. It has organized spa days with limos, a Valentine party, and a Star Wars party — complete with costumes for the family. It also works with local schools to deliver boxes to children in the hospital.

"Parents just want to celebrate their child and give their child a boost," O'Brien said.

The foundation also has inspired other initiatives.

One little girl, Meg from North Carolina, who was receiving treatment in Rhode Island, received an iPad and shopping spree at Toys R Us from the foundation. O'Brien said she vividly remembers the girl's excitement. Afterwards, her family wanted to set up their own foundation, now called Meg's Smile Foundation, O'Brien said.

The annual race was started by a local eighth-grader and Girl Scout, Hannah De Bruyn, after Caroline passed away.

O'Brien said the event has been beautiful for the community and it holds special significance that it's held on the morning of the Midsummer Festival, which was the morning in 2009 that Caroline was diagnosed.

While the O'Brien family never thought of a stopping point, they felt this year might be a good year to mark its final lap. The family hopes to continue to apply for grants and other sources of funding for the foundation.

In years past, the foundation always has charged a set registration fee for the run, but this year participants will be able to donate whatever fee they would like.

O'Brien said she doesn't want finances to stop anybody from running and hopes people will come out on Saturday to enjoy the event and cheer everybody on.

"It's part of the feeling of community that keeps us going," she said.

The event includes three separate components: the 5K walk, which starts at 8 a.m., the 5K run at 8:15 a.m., and the kids K at 9 a.m. It will begin in front of Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, proceed down Lyme Street and the town's village area. The Lymes' Youth Services Bureau will hold a party with music, food and free massages following the event.

On-site registration will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July 24, and on race day beginning at 6:45 a.m. at the Lymes' Youth Service Bureau, 59 Lyme Street in Old Lyme.

For more information, call (860) 434-2246 or e-mail miracles@carolinesmiraclefoundation.org.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich