CWC Race Packet Pickup Ends Today; Register at Race Saturday

Christmas Without Cancer’s annual 5K Race/Walk packet pick-up ends today at 6 p.m. at First National Bank of Evergreen Park.

“First National is an angel to host our packet pickup,” said CWC founder Gerri Neylon. “Our registration pickup and response has been great and will go along way to help our many families in the community.”

Packet pick up will also be held on race day at Circle Park beginning at 7 a.m.

Organizers opened registration early this year. When word spread that CWC was honoring Matt Hooker in its annual 5K Run/Walk, people were anxious to get to the starting line in his honor.

Hooker, a Mount Carmel graduate and coach who died last year from cancer complications, inspired many in his own circles on the South Side. Last year, Hooker walked with his family, savoring precious time with his wife, children and family dog. The previous year he ran with friends.

Neylon never knew there'd be days like this when she sat at her kitchen table to help one family fighting off cancer at Christmastime.

What she has come to know is that with every single family engaged, Christmas Without Cancer creates both introduction and invitation for others to join in, as evidenced in the phenomenal participation growth over a five-year period.

As Hooker walked last year -- hand in hand with his family -- his smile veiled the terrorizing fear that he might not be here for the next race. He is not, but every heart and soul he touched while on this earth seems to have signed up in some way to honor his memory.

Some will walk, some will run, others will volunteer, and others will be buying and delivering gifts this Christmas so this small grass roots organization can extend its reach locally from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

“Matt would be pleased by the response,” said Neylon, who founded Christmas Without Cancer in 2003. “Because he fought so hard to live, he’d also be ecstatic to know we have survivors of cancer running this year.”

Again this year, the Saint Xavier University Department of Athletics is inviting all CWC 5K participants to stick around or return and enjoy free admission to the 1 p.m. SXU football game against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Participants will be admitted free to the home opener with their race bib from the CWC walk/run.

Participants are also invited to tailgate in the university parking lot west of the Shannon Center at 3700 W. 103rd St.

The annual CWC 5K run/walk launches another “season of giving” at Circle Park, 3450 W. 97th St., in Evergreen Park, to benefit families faced with cancer challenges this coming holiday season.

Race Registration includes a t-shirt, CWC race medal, chip timing on a beautiful flat course. Registration and volunteer check-in will take place in the new Hamilton B. Maher Community Center. Single Registration: $35 day of race. Family Registration: $130 day of the race. (Family Team Limits: maximum six).

Trophies will be handed out for overall male and female winners along with the top male and female in each age group. Day-of-race registration and race packet pickup will begin at 7 a.m. and run until 8:30 a.m.

For more information on sponsorships or to make a donation, visit the website at

christmaswithoutcancer.org