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Look for 'Hope vs. Heroin' T-shirts at Wheaton's Cosley Zoo run

The 34th annual Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals in Wheaton is expected to attract roughly 2,500 people Saturday, most of whom are out for a good time and to raise money to help the zoo expand and renovate exhibits.

But some of the participants in this year's run will be hoping to trigger a conversation concerning a different kind of message - a message of hope in the battle against heroin.

Sponsored by Wheaton Park District, the run steps off at 7:30 a.m. in Memorial Park at 208 W. Union Ave. near downtown. Registration is from 6 to 7 a.m. and participants have a variety of options, including a timed 5K or 10K, or a half-mile "Zippity Zoo" race for kids ages 5 to 10. The cost is $40 for the 5K and 10K and $20 for the half-mile race.

Proceeds from past races have helped fund projects at the zoo such as construction of a coyote viewing deck and a Nature Play space for children.

"It's a fun, active event," said Margie Wilhelmi, director of marketing for the park district. "I see a lot of the same families come out and take part in it (each year) as part of Taste of Wheaton weekend. I think people kind of add it on to their activities for what to do with their families over the weekend."

Wilhelmi said race participants are usually a good mix of walkers, novice runners and more experienced runners.

A post-race party will be held in the park with music, awards and refreshments. Anyone is welcome to attend the Cosley Paws for Breakfast event inside the Leisure Center at Memorial Park from 7 to 11 a.m.

Among the participants in this year's race is a Wheaton family who lost a son to a heroin overdose a year ago.

Joel and Patti Clousing will be accompanied by more than 50 runners and supporters who will be sporting a blue T-shirt they designed that reads, "Hope vs. Heroin" on one side and "Hope Wins" on the other.

"Hopefully it will be a conversation starter," Patti Clousing said. "We're hoping people will wonder why we're all wearing it and it will give us a chance to explain it."

Since his son's death at age 19, Joel Clousing has become a regular speaker for a group called Messages Which Are Hopeful, or MWAH! The performance troupe uses singing, dancing and acting to spark conversations with high school and middle school students about the dangers of drugs, bullying and other difficult issues.

The Clousings - who have been committed to spreading a message of hope since Keenan's death - are trying to gather money for MWAH! because it is likely to lose state funding this summer. They already have raised more than $5,000 and anyone who makes a donation will receive the "Hope vs. Heroin" T-shirt.

The Clousings will not be at Saturday's race to sell shirts. They said they decided to participate because it is taking place in their town, they are all athletic - like Keenan - and they felt it would be a good way to remember him.

They also hope, however, that having a lot of people wear the T-shirts at a large event will encourage others to talk with them about Keenan and their positive experience with MWAH!

"We are just trying to get people aware of what Joel has been doing and about this group that's no one's ever heard of," Patti Clousing said.

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