1000 Attend Rotary Long Grove Run
The 17th Heritage Run/Walk/Breakfast in Long Grove involving 10 local charities was held on Saturday, September 8. The event is organized by the Rotary Club of Long Grove, Kildeer, and Hawthorn Woods on behalf of 10 charities. The weather was great, the crowd was festive, the competition was keen, and the pancakes were tasty.
Close to 1,000 participants, observers, and workers were on hand for the early start from Kildeer School on Old McHenry Road in Long Grove. By 11:30 AM the crowd was gone and the tents were being pulled, but memories of a fun, family oriented morning were intact with all who attended.
The overall winners of the 5K Run were Theresa Peterson, Glenview, and Michael Marty, Long Grove. Awards were presented to five top finishers for each gender and age group.
Ms. Peterson commented, "What a glorious opportunity to get fit and give back to the community!" This was her fifth 5K this summer. Husband, Jayms, and their three children rooted her on. Mike Marty stated that he runs in a dozen races each summer and this is the first time he was able to choose a beneficiary, in his case The Center for Enriched Living. At ß18 minutes flat Mike's time was over a minute faster than the second place finisher.
This year there were three new charities participating, joining seven others which have taken part in past years. The Center for Enriched Living in Riverwoods, supports those with developmental disabilities, and The Rotary Foundation, represents this Rotary District in the fight to eliminate polio. PADS of Lake County, which provides emergency shelter, returned after a year away from the event.
Other charities partnering with the Rotary Club were the The Christopher Steele Foundation, Center On Deafness, the Anthony James Brust Foundation, Exodus World Service, the Mothers' Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes, Faith Acres Foundation, and True North Treks.
These are all local charitable efforts which, working together but each pursuing its own unique goals, present a colorful, spirited, and fun event. Each has its own promotional literature, individual sign-up, and distinctive colored t-shirt.
Karl Riehn, Hawthorn Woods, the President of the sponsoring Rotary Club, recently observed, "In this our 20th year of existence our club again has provided support to a range of charitable, local interests while helping ourselves and having a great time together. Rotarians are proud to be able to support such interests while pursuing the Rotary motto, Service Above Self."
More information about the event and about the participating charities may be found at www.RotaryRace.org.
More information about the Rotary Club of Long Grove, Kildeer, and Hawthorn Woods is available at www.RCLG.org.The Club holds a breakfast meeting weekly on Tuesdays at The Grove Country Club on Old Route 53 in Long Grove at 7:30 AM.