4th ANNUAL 5K/10K CHARITY EVENT RAISES FUNDS AND SETS NEW RECORD FOR F

The Village of Barrington Hills and Cuba Township co-hosted the 4th Annual The Land We Love Run 5K/10K + 2-Mile Walk, a charity event on Saturday, June 29, 2024, benefitting Folds of Honor Chicago and Cuba Township’s Food Pantry. Some 129 participants stretched, hydrated, encouraged each other and shared stories of preparation for this year’s Run just before taking their place behind the starting line, anxiously awaiting the 7:30 AM airhorn blast prompting them to hit the ground running–or walking–their chosen course.

New this year were certified, chip-timed courses that incorporated more hills, surprising some and enticing others who wanted to take on the feat.

“I recently got into running about six weeks ago and wanted to do a running event,” said newcomer Angelo Belen from Gurnee. “A friend told me about the Run and here I am.” Angelo proved to himself he could do it! He medaled, taking 2nd place in his 10K category. Congratulations Angelo!

Bystanders cheered on families, friends, couples, those with pets, those with strollers--and new this year, runners who banded together to form a team--as they cannonballed over the starting line checking their time and running into the distance; their feet emulating the percussion section of a melodious orchestra.

America won its independence 248 years ago, and The Land We Love Run— an Independence Day kickoff celebration– showed that everyone who participated and made this event possible, won, too!

• Registrants
• Spectators
• Sponsors
• Donors
• Volunteers
• Behind-the-Scenes Crews
• Folds of Honor Chicago
• Cuba Township Food Pantry
• and hosts, Cuba Township and the Village of Barrington Hills

Collectively, these winners achieved victory that early Saturday morning by raising $11,500 for Folds of Honor Chicago, an organization that has awarded over 52,000 scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen & disabled service members and first responders, and setting a new record for pounds of food donated to Cuba Township’s Food Pantry—over 820 pounds!

Congratulations to Tom Diener and Kevin Taylor from the Rapid Response Team (RRT). They took home the medal for Most Donations, donating almost 800 pounds of food boxes to Cuba Township’s Food Pantry!

Medals were awarded to 1st, 2nd & 3rd place finishers in 25 categories plus medals for team achievements and most patriotic costume!

Congratulations to Susan Colditz who was awarded this year’s Most Patriotic Costume and who also placed 3rd in her 5K category!

Laughter, cheering, high-fives and sighs of relief closed out the Run. Team Hillstriders’ Anne Haseman of Crystal Lake commented before leaving, “The course was very beautiful, hard but beautiful.” She placed first in her 10K category and when asked if she’d be back next year, she emphatically answered, “Oh yes!”

We can’t wait to welcome you back, Anne, and congratulations!

The 2024 Run Results can be viewed at vbhil.gov/race and event photos at vbhil.gov/photos.