5K to celebrate Bob Leonard Walkway project in St. Charles
With Phase I of the Bob Leonard Walkway project complete, the River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles will host the third annual Bob Leonard 5K Run and Walkathon at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. The Downtown St. Charles Partnership is a co-presenter of the event.
Registration starts at 8 a.m. at Pottawatomie Park's Grand Pavilion, 8 North Ave. in downtown St. Charles. The 5K Run and 2.7-mile walk begin and end in Pottawatomie Park. The scenic route gives participants an opportunity to envision the future of the river front as they contribute their time, interest and pledges to the improvements.
The event is named in memory of Bob Leonard, who served as a leader for numerous riverfront projects and died in December 2006. He was a dedicated volunteer of the Downtown St. Charles Partnership, which is a co-presenter of the 5K run and walkathon, along with the River Corridor Foundation. It was his vision for the partnership and community to enhance the appeal and accessibility of the downtown river front creating an environment of fun, relaxation and community.
Proceeds from the event will be dedicated to Phase 2 of the project, which includes installation of a pedestrian/bike path. Individuals, families and co-workers are invited to join the event, through participation in the run/walk, or through a personal donation to the River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles. Early registration is $25 and includes an event T-shirt for the first 300 registrants. Early registration continues through July 31. Ribbons will be given in male and female categories to the top three finishers of the 5K run for the following age ranges 12-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70-plus. Additional prizes will be awarded to first place finishers and to best overall time winners.
For a minimum donation or pledge of $50, participants are eligible for raffle prize drawings including dinner for four at Sage Bistro overlooking the beautiful Fox River in St. Charles, a 3-month fitness membership at Delnor Health & Wellness Center, four tickets to the Aug. 13 Richard Marx concert at the Arcada Theatre, with dinner for four at Onesti Dinner Club, in historic downtown St. Charles, and one-week accommodations for a 2-bedroom oceanfront condo in Kona, Hawaii. After the run/walk, refreshments will be offered. Leonard's son Jeff will provide musical entertainment.
Online registration for runners is available at SignMeUp.com/65916.
Runners and walkers also can register by calling Deb Pfaff at (630) 513-5386, ext. 1, or e-mail her at deb@dtown.org. Visit stcrivercorridor.org to learn more.