A funny thing happens when you grow up -- you learn.

“I used to hate running,” says Tyler Munnich. “But now, I’m actually kind of happy when I come out here and run.”

As you get older, you figure things out about yourself. Like for Tyler, he acquired the desire to run. As for the zest for life, that’s infectious.

“He was so happy all the time,” Tyler remembers about his childhood friend Griffin Engle. “It didn’t make sense how happy he was.”

Griffin’s outlook on life most likely can be traced back to his mom, Erin. Because despite losing Griffin to brain cancer six years ago, she hasn’t let life’s greatest pain control her. 

“You can go either way,” Engle said. “You can let cancer destroy you and your family, or you can do something positive with it.”

That ‘something positive’ has become Griffin Guardians, a non-profit organization which helps out families affected by pediatric cancer. 

One of the pillar events for Griffin’s Guardians has become participating in the annual Utica Boilermaker. The organization is rewarded with ten charity bibs to hand out to runners, and over the last three years, those runners have raised nearly $30,000.

“I think it just reinforces that Griffin’s Guardians isn’t just the Engle Family. It’s the entire community that is making a difference,” Erin said.

This year, thanks to the pandemic, the organization has had to get creative. They’ve moved the event to a virtual setting and will run locally. Despite the change, the will of those taking part hasn’t been altered.

“The cause and the mission of those running under the charity bib program hasn’t changed,” Erin says. “These runners are running for kids with cancer, kids who have passed away from it and kids who have yet to be diagnosed.”

Kids just like Tyler’s friend Griffin – a light that shined so bright, it continues to lead the way for those in need today.

“Griffin’s legacy is not over. He impacted so many people during his battle. I knew he would continue to inspire so many to come together to form Griffin’s Guardians and make it so successful,” said Erin.