Area run to benefit heart foundation
Many will run for the love of their friend Kathryn, some will run for exercise and others for fun. But all participants in Saturday's charity event will be helping cardio health of area teens.
The third annual Kathryn Bender Memorial Foundation 5K Run/Walk begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at Neuqua Valley High School. Registration is $25 per person or $60 per family and begins on-site at 8 a.m. Saturday.
The event is organized in memory of Kathryn, who died unexpectedly in 2005 while backstage at a dance show. She was a Naperville North senior at the time.
As in years past, proceeds from the event will purchase at least one mobile EKG machine for the Midwest Heart Foundation's Young Hearts for Life Program, which travels to area high schools to provide cardiac screening for students.
"The more the program grows in popularity, the more EKG machines they need so we're happy to help them continue to grow the program," said Elizabeth Bender, Kathryn's sister and president of the foundation.
About 175 people participated last year and Bender is hoping for 200 on Saturday. There is no rain date scheduled for the event.
While there will be a timer available to satisfy runners' curiosity, the event is for fun and no official times or awards will be given out.
Bender said the idea for a run was generated by an annual run organized by Naperville's Washington Junior High.
"Each year they run that event in memory of someone and in 2006 they did it for Kathryn," she said. "We thought that was a great idea so we just kept it up every year since then to help the Midwest Heart Foundation."
The 5K run is one of several fundraisers the Bender family now organizes annually including a spring dance showcase.
If you go
What: Kathryn Bender Memorial Foundation 5K Run/Walk
When: Registration at 8 a.m. Saturday; the run is at 9 a.m.
Where: Neuqua Valley High School, 2360 95th St., Naperville
Registration: $25 per person, $60 per family
Info: kbmf.net/fundraisers/5k_2009.htm