Oak Lawn Mayor Terry Vorderer and Co-Chairman of the Helen Keller 5k, Chris Coleman, on Sunday morning at Richards High School, 10601 Central Ave., Oak Lawn.
By Kelly White
The damp weather from overnight rain did not deter more than 100 people on Sunday morning from getting some exercise.
The 14th annual District 1A Helen Keller 5k Fun Run/Walk proudly took place along at Harold L. Richard’s High School, 10601 Central Ave., Oak Lawn.
“This is a really great event,” Oak Lawn Mayor Mayor Terry Vorderer said. “I look forward to it every year.”
Spearheading the 5k was Frank Kirar, of Oak Lawn, who has served as co-chairman for the event, alongside Burbank Lions Club member, Chris Coleman, of Oak Lawn.
“The 5k is a way to encourage people to get outdoors, have fun and enjoy walking or running all while helping out a great cause,” Coleman said.
District 1A is a part of Lions Clubs International, a network of volunteers who work together to answer the needs that challenge local communities. For nearly 100 years, Lions Clubs have provided resources for individuals who are blind or who have severe vision or hearing loss worldwide.
This 5k was no different.
With registration fees set at $30 per runner and $20 per walker, last year more than $10,000 was raised and profits went to benefit the Lions of Illinois Foundation, providing programs and services to the people of Illinois for the detection, treatment and rehabilitation of the visually and hearing impaired, to Visions, which provides programs and services for the blind, visually impaired and disabled that do not have a local Lions Club.
With this year marking the 14th annual 5k, the District 1A Lions Club has raised more than $175,000 since its first race.
“This is a good community event,” Coleman said. “We always get a nice crowd out for it, from Lions and Leo Club members, to local residents.”
The event kicked off from Richards’ football field but continued on through the wooded area surrounding the high school. The 5k was timed only for the runners.
“The 5k is beautiful and scenic, with more of a cross-country course, running through the Richards High School track to the Wolfe-Wildlife area,” Coleman said. “You get pavement, grass, nature and more.”
“The location is really neat,” The 5k’s co-chair, Frank Kirar agreed. “It’s a wildlife area that is really pretty. It is definitely a challenge to the runners and a pleasure to the walkers.”
The 5k was also an opportunity for community charity groups, such as boy and girl scouts, school clubs, booster clubs and church groups, to have 40 percent of the total amount they personally collected in donations returned to them for the benefit of their specific service activity. The remaining 60 percent will be donated to the Lions charitable organizations.
On site were student pharmacists from Midwestern University to provide blood pressure screenings prior to the race for all participants. Refreshments were also provided before and after the event, courtesy of the Lions Club.
Karen Triezenberg, of Orland Park and the President of the Willow Springs Lioness Lions Club, and Amanda Cardin, of Chicago Ridge, and Region 5 Zone Chair for District 1A Lions Club, at the Helen Keller 5k on Sunday morning.