Local Cross-Country Cyclists pass thru Northern Suburbs

The Illini 4000 is a student-run organization at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign and a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit. Every summer, the
Illini 4000 sends a group of students on a cross-country bike ride to fight
cancer and collect stories of those affected by cancer in The Portraits Project
(http://www.portraitsproject.org) This year's team of 27 riders (plus some adventuresome friends and family) will be riding through Chicago, Morton Grove, Glenview, Wilmette, Northfield, Glencoe, Deerfield, Libertyville and onto Lake Geneva on Monday, June 12 on a 86 mile day. A photo-op for extra pledges toward Loyola Academy alumnae Maggie Benson and Catherine Schmid at at the
main entrance Loyola Academy in Wilmette on Monday, June 12 at 10 am would be a good place to cheer on the team. Check their facebook page for more details or join them on Sat., June 10 at 1pm for a potluck at The Bean in Millennium Park.

HISTORY

The Illini 4000 was formed in 2006 by University of Illinois students Anish Thakkar and Jonathan Schlesinger, who saw a lack of funding for cancer research. The two organized and participated in the inaugural ride in the summer of 2007, and have completed a ride every summer since.

The Portraits Project is a collection of narratives that illustrate how Americans respond to cancer. Each story is reflective of their unique life experiences and individual beliefs: from the retired teacher in Washington D.C., to the young dancer in Portland, we believe that everyone has a story to tell.

MISSION

The Portraits Project is a national community that gives a voice to the American cancer experience and inspires people to rise together in the fight against cancer. By sharing the stories of people across the United States, the Portraits Project strives to serve as a platform to unite those who have been affected by cancer, provide educational resources, and foster strength in the face of this disease. Each Portrait is taken by members of the Illini 4000, who during their ride have the unique opportunity whileriding across the country to interview a wide spectrum of people. While interviewing cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers from all walks of life, our riders are able to truly discover how cancer has impacted the American lifestyle. By recording these unique narratives from the communities we ride through each year, our organization illustrates how Americans respond to cancer according to their religious beliefs, location, and socioeconomic status.

FUNDRAISING

Since 2006, the Illini 4000 has raised over $1,000,000 for cancer research and patient support services, and has annually raised over $100,000 since 2010. We hope to raise $200,000 in 2017. Donate at www.illini4000.org/donate