5K run speeds past its goals

Following in his brothers' footsteps, Scott Wherry started running as a high school student growing up in downstate Pekin.

But after getting married, becoming a dad and landing a teaching job with Community Unit District 300, Wherry had to put his running on hold.

Once he started up again four years ago, running became a part of his daily routine, so much so that his co-workers knew the route he took and what time he would lace up his sneakers and hit the trails.

"He ran pretty much every day of his life," said Evan Borkowski, a teacher and cross-country coach at Algonquin Middle School.

Wherry, who was the assistant principal at the middle school, liked to run with his co-workers and invited Borkowski to join him for his 4 a.m. runs on several occasions.

Borkowski never got a chance.

While on vacation with his family in June, Wherry died. He was 34.

Wherry's unexpected death sent shock waves through the District 300 community, which rallied around Wherry's family and set up a fund to help them.

The latest fundraising effort was a Saturday 5K walk and run held in Wherry's memory.

Organizers of the event said it was a way to honor Wherry while raising money for his family, who lives in Algonquin.

"We figured we had to do something for the family because Scott was such a wonderful person," said Tom Sitkie, who replaced Wherry as assistant principal.

Sitkie and Borkowski, who organized the 5K, did more than they expected, raising $10,000 in donations and registration fees Saturday.

"We were shooting for a couple thousand, so we definitely exceeded our goal," Borkowski said.

Wherry's family was moved by the gesture.

"It couldn't be more of an honor for Scott," said Nancy Wherry, Scott's mother. "He loved the school, he loved the kids and he loved to run."