Carter Dunn, 39, of Draper was sitting at work in April when his mother called him to tell him the news.

His great niece, Taylor Jaussi, was facing yet another heart surgery and more trying circumstances. Jaussi was born six weeks prematurely with a three-chamber heart and spent the first 44 days of her life in a hospital. At age 2, she received corrective surgery to separate the chambers of her heart.

But a complication from the surgery damaged a valve, causing it to leak, resulting in a second surgery that tried to fix the mitral valve. She has been limited in physical activity and relegated to medication ever since. With Jaussi's heart waning and the second surgery unsuccessful, a third operation to replace the mitral valve is necessary for the 10-year-old.

"When you hear news like this, you just feel helpless," Dunn said.

But what Dunn realized minutes later is that he had already put in place a giant support group for Jaussi only a month earlier without knowing it. Dunn is a fitness fanatic and an avid long-distance runner. From his passion, the B-12 Running Club was born in March. Preparing for the Salt Lake Marathon with a couple of friends, they decided to put together a 12-mile run in Bountiful.

Dunn smirks as he explains how the Bountiful Dozen turned into the B-12 and then garnered the slogan "Put a shot of B-12 in your life" and turned into a Facebook.com group with a mascot.

The Facebook group ballooned to over 60 members, with everyone posting their workouts and creating a positive arena for physical fitness. The day Dunn learned that Jaussi was facing more tribulations he realized that he had built a reservoir of supportive friends through B-12.

"I thought to myself, 'I can sit here and feel bad and helpless or maybe we can put together a run for her.'"

He ran the idea by a couple of work buddies who offered their services immediately. People began jumping on board left and right and, with the city of Draper's help, the Run for Taylor 5K was created and set for Draper Park on June 6 to raise money for Jaussi's medical expenses.

One of those ready to help from the very beginning was Jamie Lambert, 27, of Sugar House. Lambert is a former swimmer for Brigham Young University and is currently striving to become a professional triathlete. She's seen friends struggle with illness in their families and when she heard of Jaussi's situation, she offered her services in several ways.

"I know that just the situation of having someone ill like that is difficult emotionally and financially," Lambert said.

For Celeste Jaussi of Saratoga Springs, Taylor's mother, watching all of her family and friends and friends of friends rally around her daughter has been nothing short of miraculous. She fights back tears talking about her daughter's surgeries and how Taylor had to quit dance; she explains that the new valve will have to be replaced in about 10 years and Taylor will have to take blood thinner the rest of her life. The tears return when she speaks of the support her family is receiving.

"It's just having everyone around [Taylor] and supporting her that makes her feel like a million bucks," Celeste said.

Taylor walks when other children run and it limits how much she plays. She spends time with friends talking and playing in the playground. Dance became too difficult but she still occasionally gets to ride horses. She grasps very well that her parents are ready to give her whatever care she needs, no matter the challenge or cost.

"They've comforted me and they've talked me through it," Taylor said.

What Dunn and Lambert and many others have done is help the Jaussi's see possibilities where they might have otherwise seen roadblocks in Taylor's journey. Sponsors such as Real Salt Lake, the Salt Lake Bees and USANA have contributed to the Run for Taylor 5K.

Several standard fees have been waived by the City of Draper and the police officers -- normally paid time-and-a-half for similar duties -- have volunteered their services. With all the money raised going to help the Jaussi's fund their travel and health care expenses, people are getting excited about their cause. But Dunn agrees with his friend who told him, "I couldn't care less about the money. I think it's just neat that all of these people are getting together to support this little girl."