Dist. 300's Run for the Bear continues to grow

Participation in the recent annual Run for the Bear, hosted by Eastview Elementary School, increased by more than 33 percent this year, largely due to District 300's first districtwide community push.

A total of 599 adults and children registered for the event to benefit kids with cancer, gathering under crisp autumn skies at Eastview on Oct. 5. They included 446 in the 5K run/walk, 105 in the 10K run, and 48 children in the kids' field events. Last year, the total was 450 participants.

The district learned that it successfully surpassed its fundraising goal of $30,000, with new registrants and donations of $100 or more continuing to flow in on race day.

Diane Heimsoth, district staff benefits coordinator, promoted the event districtwide for several months as part of a health and well-being effort. Heimsoth and Lucy Quinn, Eastview Elementary School secretary, were to be honored by the school board for their leadership at the board meeting Oct. 14 at Algonquin Lakes Elementary School.

Over the spring and summer, staff members and students trained for the race while student bodies and PTO groups across the district raised funds and awareness for the Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation. This nonprofit was founded in Algonquin in 1992 by Kathleen A. Casey. Since that time, Bear Necessities has helped more than 3,000 families across the Chicago area with children fighting cancer, 71 of these families from McHenry County. The foundation is named in memory of Casey's 8-year-old son, Barrett "Bear" Krupa, who died after a courageous 5-year battle with Wilms Tumor, a pediatric cancer. "Bear" attended Eastview Elementary. Dan Palombit of District 300 emceed the event along with foundation president and founder Kathleen Casey and cancer survivor Gavin Silva, the 14th annual Run for the Bear Ambassador. Last year, Gavin attended Golfview Elementary School; his family has moved to Cary.

Staff members made an excellent showing among race winners: Michelle Plummer, Gilberts Elementary, overall female winner of the 5K; Sandy Richardson, Gilberts Elementary, first in the 5K Female 50-59; Denise Stilwell, Golfview, third in the 5K Female 50-59; Jonathan Betts, Liberty Elementary, second in the 5K Male 20-29; Courtney Zueck, Jacobs High School, Overall Female Winner of the 10K; Jean Link, Eastview, first in the female 30-39; Helena O'Callaghan, district substitute, first in the female 40-49; Kimberly Wiedmeyer, Jacobs High School, second in the female 20-29; Matthew Smith, Jacobs High School, second in the male 20-29; and Anthony Cappello, Jacobs High School, third in the male 20-29. For details, visit bearnecessities.org.