Glenbard student turns passion for running into fundraiser

A Glenbard West student has taken his passion for running and turned it into a fundraiser to fight animal cruelty.

Adin Lykken, who will be a senior at the Glen Ellyn high school, started the nonprofit company Woofin & Hoofin after he was invited to the People to People Leadership Conference at Stanford University.

A company called Youth Venture was giving out grants to start a nonprofit group.

"I have always been a passionate runner, and I thought a 5K would be a nice size for me," he said.

The efforts Lykken has been working toward since 2007 will culminate in a race this Sunday at Newton Park at the southeast corner of Fairview and Exmoor avenues in Glen Ellyn.

A "doggie dash," a one-mile run with pets, will start at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K race will start at 8 a.m.

Proceeds will be given to nonprofit animal welfare organizations, but Lykken said he also wants to get word out about animal cruelty.

"It's something a lot of people haven't touched on," he said.

Lykken said the biggest obstacle for the fundraiser was finding out how to organize a race.

He plans to create an online outline to let others easily find a step-by-step process to arranging their own 5K.

"It's something they can use for any issue," he said.

Lykken and the four friends who started the nonprofit are also planning to pass down the group to younger students at the school who can carry on the fundraising.

Registration is available on-site and online at woofinhoofin.org.