'This Run's For Jack' steps off Sunday in Glen Ellyn

When Cassandra Bischoff runs in Sunday's seventh annual “This Run's for Jack 5K run/walk, she expects to do so with a heavy heart.

Her running partner in two of the previous races, her husband of 10 years and the competitive partner who pushed her in her runs, will not be there. Joel Bischoff died of melanoma in November.

“We'll all be thinking a lot about him, Cassandra Bischoff said. “I will be running with a broken heart.

Bischoff will be one of more than 1,000 runners expected at the event, which will offer free skin screenings and raise money for melanoma research and education.

Online registration will be accepted until 6 p.m. today at www.jacksfund.org. Race day registration will be open from 6 to 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, at Ackerman Park, 800 St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn. The race will begin at 8 a.m.

Joel Bischoff, a 35-year-old Naperville resident when he died, was a runner when he was diagnosed with melanoma. But his competitive nature pushed him to keep running in the race named after Jack Marston II, a fellow runner and popular youth coach in Glen Ellyn who died of the disease in July 2004.

Bischoff began running in the race when his disease progressed to Stage 3 in 2005. Alongside him each time was Cassandra.

“He was pretty competitive, she said. “He liked everyone to go out there and run hard. The charity was important to him the whole time. He had a tough time with (the disease) but he didn't want to worry other people.

The race has an entirely different meaning to Wheaton's Cathy Bolger. The 52-year-old checks in with her doctor at least once every three months to make sure her melanoma has not returned.

She said she heard about the Jack H. Marston II Melanoma Fund through her dermatologist.

A self-described “sun worshipper, Bolger said she has been impressed by the way the foundation focuses on education for younger people.

She said each year she looks forward to the race, even if her walking pace doesn't necessarily set the ground on fire.

“It's a day of celebration for me because it's another milestone of getting through it, she said. “It's a positive and uplifting thing to stand with other survivors.

When diagnosed with melanoma five years ago, she was shocked but said that she was fortunate to have been diagnosed early. She said at least 10 melanoma spots have been discovered and removed.

“At first, I really went through this thing of ‘I miss the sun and can't do without it,' she said. “But you can do without it because it's going to kill you otherwise.

If you go

<p>What: Seventh annual “This Run's for Jack 5K run/walk</p>

<p>Where: Ackerman Park, 800 St. Charles Road, Glen Ellyn</p>

<p>When: 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 17</p>

<p>Info: To register, visit jacksfund.org before 6 p.m. tonight. On-site registration available race day from 6 to 7:30 a.m. Sunday. Donations requested.</p>