Christmas Without Cancer 5K Brings Holiday Cheer In September

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — Registration is now open for the seventh annual Christmas Without Cancer 5K Run/Walk, which will take place on Saturday, Sept. 18, at Circle Park beginning at 9 am. Participants will have the opportunity to run or walk a beautiful, tree-lined, flat course, in the Evergreen Park neighborhood, while helping hundreds of cancer patients, survivors and their families. For those who choose, a virtual race option is also available.

While the pandemic forced the organization’s 5K to go virtual last year, 2019 was the organization’s biggest event ever, with over 800 participants. Registration is available online at the Christmas Without Cancer 5K Sign Up. Individual registration is $30. Family registration, which includes a minimum of four family members and a maximum of six, is available for $120. Day-of-race registration for individuals is $35, and for families for $130. Day of race on-site registration will be open from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at Klein (Circle) Park, 97th Street and Homan Avenue, Evergreen Park. (Please note: Day of race registration T-shirts will be first come, first served basis.)

Those who register before July 31 and use a discount code of “CWC21” will receive $5 off the registration fee.

Registered participants will receive a t-shirt, medal, with an option for chip timing available for those who choose to run the course. Runners and walkers must register BEFORE August 30 to guarantee a race t-shirt.

The run/walk will be split into age groups, beginning at age 10 and above. The top male and female in each age range will be awarded a trophy. Additionally, a winner will be chosen for the most festive Christmas outfit, and top individual and team fundraisers will be awarded a VISA gift card.

The Christmas Without Cancer 5K Run/Walk is the most important and largest fundraiser of the year for the organization. By participating in-person or virtually, runners and walkers are helping to take a little of the financial stress and worry of cancer off of families, survivors and patients, said Renee Copeland, vice-president of Christmas Without Cancer.

“We are so excited to be hosting this year’s Christmas Without Cancer 5K Run/Walk in-person and virtually, so that we can continue to provide year-round support to numerous families in the Chicagoland area who have been impacted by cancer,” said Renee Copeland, vice president of Christmas Without Cancer. “Too many families know all too well that when cancer strikes, help is needed daily. I hope that everyone who has been affected by cancer – whether personally or through a friend or family member - will sign up for our 5K Run/Walk.”

Since 2003, Christmas Without Cancer has aided thousands of people across the Chicagoland area by providing holiday gifts, as well as basic necessities, to local families that are stricken with cancer. Founded in 2003 by oncology nurse Gerri Neylon, the organization quietly identifies and adopts multiple families throughout the year and supplies them with gift cards for groceries, medications, gas, and other “need” items, as well as help with mortgage payments, rent, tuition and travel related expenses for treatment.

For sponsorship opportunities, please email christmaswithoutcancer@gmail.com.

For more information on the Christmas Without Cancer 5K Run/Walk, please visit www.christmaswithoutcancer.org