Christmas Without Cancer 5K Run/Walk On Track For Saturday

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — More than 780 people have signed up to participate in the Christmas Without Cancer 5K Run/Walk, which will take place on Saturday, Sept. 18 at Klein (Circle) Park, 9719 S. Homan Ave. in Evergreen Park. Runners and walkers will spring from the blocks at 9 a.m. Online registration is available until noon on Sept. 13, by visiting CWC 5K Run/Walk.

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 registration will also be available for for $35, and for families for $130. Day of race/on-site registration will be open from 7 am - 8:30 am (Please note: Day of race registration t-shirts will be first come, first served basis. Supplies and sizes will be limited.)

For those who choose, a virtual option is also available. The Christmas Without Cancer 5K will be following all CDC protocols, with hand sanitizer stations located throughout the event. Participants are encouraged to wear masks along the route, and face masks will be required when indoors at registration.

This year’s Christmas Without Cancer honorees include three individuals from the Southland-area who have fought cancer, and experienced grueling treatments, financial hardships, and are now choosing to give back to other families and patients. The three honorees include Ryan Colby of Orland Park; Don Grenda of Alsip; and Nicole Houlihan of Evergreen Park.

Colby, 21, was diagnosed with lymphoma at the age of 14 while in his freshman year at Sandburg High School. He is now a senior at Illinois State University and helps in guiding other patients who are going through similar treatments.

Grenda, 44, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2020. In November of this past year, a Christmas Without Cancer supporter provided a homemade catered Thanksgiving dinner to the family. This holiday season, the Grenda’s and their extended family will be “adopting” cancer families and will be providing Thanksgiving meals to them.

Houlihan, 29, was diagnosed in 2019 with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, which is commonly found in pediatric cases. Houlihan was an Oncology nurse at Advocate Christ Medical Center and was diagnosed shortly after getting married. She recently joined the Christmas Without Cancer Board of Directors in an effort to give back to people and families.

A drive-through packet pick-up event will be on held on Wednesday, September 15 from 3 p.m. too 7 p.m., and Thursday, September 16 from 3 to 5 p.m., at the Hamilton B. Maher Community Center, located at 3540 W 97th Street in Evergreen Park.

The Christmas Without Cancer 5K Run/Walk is the most important and largest fundraiser of the year for the organization. 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.