BY CRAIG PETERS

Minnesota Vikings

Eagan, Minn. — Just below a gold-painted Nike Swoosh, a pink ring rests on a gray heart and encircles a white ring filled with hope.

A rainbow bridges clouds to go along with the words "Ciara's Circle of Hope Foundation."

Vikings tight end Johnny Mundt selected Hughson-based Ciara’s Circle of Hope this year for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative.

Mundt knows what Ciara Chiesa faced while battling cancer when they were teenagers in Hughson. They were family friends, with multiple generations overlapping in walnut and almond farming businesses. And they both attended St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.

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 conjunction 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.

“We realized this year that we’ve been without her as long as we had her,” Ciara’s mother, Melanie Chiesa, told the Turlock Journal. “This last Saturday we had a Mass for Ciara, and then afterward we had a luncheon at our house. It was then that we heard about Johnny’s shoes, and Ciara’s Circle being his cause.”

Mundt wore the cleats during Minnesota’s 42-21 win over Atlanta on Sunday.

Now a parent himself, with another child due in January, 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.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Mundt, who won a Super Bowl title with the Los Angeles Rams three seasons ago, is almost certain to establish new career highs this season in receptions and yardage with the 11-2 Vikings.

To date, Ciara's Circle of Hope has contributed about $350,000 to cancer research and local causes. 

— Turlock Journal staff writer Joe Cortez contributed to this story.