The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival Presents The 2nd Annual Superhero 5k Run/Walk Benefiting Make-A-Wish® Illinois

HIGHWOOD, IL (OCTOBER 7, 2017) – Now in its eighth year, the Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival is excited to host its 2nd Annual Superhero 5K Run/Walk to raise money for a cause very near and dear to the hearts of Highwood’s residents, Make-A-Wish Illinois. In 2013, Highwood’s hometown hero Samuel Asher Sommer, known to so many as Superman Sam, died on December 13 of acute myeloid leukemia at the age of 8 years old. To honor Superman Sam, a Make-A-Wish recipient, event organizers are encouraging all participants to come dressed in their favorite super hero costume in solidarity with the goal of surpassing last year’s $60,000 donation to Make-A-Wish Illinois and raise enough funds to grant 100 wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions in Illinois.

“In the months after Sam died, I looked back at our Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World often,” said Sam’s mom Phyllis Sommer. “Those memories are a gift that will continue to shine as a bright spot in the sadness. To spend time together, in a sweet and happy place, was so much more of a blessing than we’d ever though possible, and for that we are so very grateful.”

In addition to Sam, the race is also honoring the more than 715 wish children from communities all across the state this year.

This annual race will bring participants together in an effort to raise awareness and support for Make-A-Wish Illinois. Kicking off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 7, participants will run and walk from Waukegan and Walker Avenue, in front of The Bent Fork Bakery, through downtown Highwood and historic Fort Sheridan while passing the thousands of carved jack-o’-lanterns which will be lit later that evening.

Participants are encouraged to register online for the race. It is $35 for the run/walk. Plus, all participants 21 and over will receive a free Bloody Mary or beer at the end of the race!

Packet pick up will be at the Celebrate Highwood booth on Pumpkin Fest grounds (corner of Waukegan & Walker Avenue) during Community Appreciation Night on Thursday, October 5 from 5-7 p.m. Online registration closes at 7 a.m. on October 7, 2017.

In addition to these fundraising efforts, there will be a $3/day admission, or $5 weekend pass, to The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival with all proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Illinois.

“As a grassroots organization, community members and fundraising efforts are key in making sure that we can reach every eligible child with a wish,” said Ashley White, Gift Officer with Make-A-Wish Illinois. “The generous people who are participating in The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest and race on behalf of Make-A-Wish can feel really good about bringing hope, strength and joy to seriously ill Illinois children.”

For more information on the Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest, please go to www.highwoodpumpkinfest.com, or call 847.432.6000.

ABOUT CELEBRATE HIGHWOOD:

Formerly, a collaboration between the City of Highwood and the Highwood Chamber of Commerce, the newly established 501(c)(3) Celebrate Highwood produces events that cater to the wants and needs of the citizens, businesses and visitors of Highwood. The goal is to build strong community spirit and establish Highwood as the prime entertainment destination for dining, festivals and events on the North Shore through inter-organizational collaboration, sharing resources and promoting the City as a wonderful place to live, eat and play. For more information on all of Highwood’s festivals, please visit www.CelebrateHighwood.org, www.facebook.com/celebratehighwood, or call 847-432-6000.

ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH:

Make-A-Wish Illinois will grant more than 715 wishes to children across the state this year. Wishes are granted to children with life-threatening medical conditions such as cancer, organ transplants, genetic diseases and many more. Wishes can be an important part of the treatment process, empowering children to make decisions and providing strength to comply with medical treatments.

Since being founded locally in 1985, Make-A-Wish Illinois has granted more than 14,000 wishes and continues its mission to share the power of a wish with children across the state. For more information or to find out how you can help, call 312.602.WISH or visit www.illinois.wish.org.

ABOUT THE CITY OF HIGHWOOD

William Wallace Everts, a Chicago civic leader and world-renowned educator founded Highwood in 1868. His concept of a family-based community has endured for more than a century. The beautiful Everts Park, in the heart of downtown Highwood, has been named in the founder's honor. Benches and trees in the park celebrate and remember people who, through turbulent times and peaceful ones, built and sustained the community. Many of Highwood's street names recall Evert’s' family and friends whom the founder encouraged to build homes here. Residents of Swedish, Irish, Italian, Latino and other heritages have since populated the community, each enriching the community through their cultural traditions. The Village of Highwood was incorporated in 1887. The name briefly became Village of Fort Sheridan and then City of Fort Sheridan. In 1904, the community officially became known as the City of Highwood. Fort Sheridan, a former army base slightly northeast of the City, has had a profound influence on Highwood's development, and it continues to do so today as part of its land, incorporated into the City, nearly doubled Highwood in size. Today, Highwood is blending the past and present with exciting new plans for its future. The City of Highwood, IL administrative offices are located at 17 Highwood Avenue, Highwood, Illinois 60040. For more information, please visit www.cityofhighwood.com. Tel: 847.432.1924.