Ciara showed strength, perseverance, faith and love in her battle with medulloblastoma, a malignant and fast-growing brain tumor.
“I grew up going to family functions with her and her family, so to see her go through that and no longer see her at school was tough,” Mundt said. “We’d get updates, pictures. We went to the same church growing up. It was really tough to see her go through that, and then as the years go by, to bring attention to her name and cause and not let her be forgotten was cool.”
Ciara passed away Dec. 7, 2010, at age 14, and Ciara’s Circle of Hope was created to help young people and families in need through support efforts and by funding research in conjugation with the American Institute of Cancer Research. Part of the effort is supported through the sale of an organic, raw walnut butter produced by Nutty Gourmet. The packaging is branded with pink accents in honor of Ciara.
Now 30 and a parent, Mundt fondly remembers his friend and wants to help reduce tragedies for families.
“Having a family and to imagine my child going through something as drastic as that is heartbreaking, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to shed some light on her name and her foundation, as well as my community,” Mundt said.