Walk 5K for Caitlin this Saturday
The seventh annual Walk 5K for Caitlin will be held on Saturday, June 12 at St. Thomas More School, 215 Thomas More Drive in Elgin. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk begins at 9 a.m. A silent auction and raffles follow.
The Walk 5K for Caitlin is held in memory of Caitlin E. Weese. On May 22, 2003, Caitlin's car was struck by a repeat drunken driver. On May 24, she died of the injuries sustained in the crash. Her death occurred three weeks before her 18th birthday and one week before what would have been her graduation from Larkin High School. In 2004, Caitlin's mother and stepfather, Diane and Joel Mains founded the Caitlin E. Weese Charitable Trust, aka Walk 5K for Caitlin. This 501(c)3 charitable organization funds a college scholarship to a Larkin High School student in memory of Caitlin, and also supports the victims' assistance fund for the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists.
In August 2006, Caitlin's mother Diane died unexpectedly at the age of 48. The official cause of death was complications of heart surgery but her friends and family believe that she succumbed to a broken heart after the loss of her child. Diane was the main driving force of the Walk 5K for Caitlin and so to honor her; family and friends continue to work even harder to make this legacy remain a success. The goal is to eventually make the scholarship self-sustaining so that there will always be a Caitlin E. Weese Scholarship, and to continue to support AAIM and its initiatives.
"We're hoping that the seventh annual walk will be the most successful yet, with the continued support of our family, friends and community," said Joel Mains.
Raffles and a silent auction follow the Walk, with items including sports memorabilia, restaurant gift certificates, entertainment packages and more. Additional raffles include cash prizes and a handmade quilt designed and constructed by friends and relatives of Diane Mains and Caitlin Weese. The 2010 recipient of the Caitlin E. Weese Scholarship will be introduced; and the Elgin Police Department officer and the Kane County Sheriff's deputy with the most DUI arrests in 2009 will be honored.
Registration is $20 or $10 for children, ages 6 to 18. Kids 5 and under are free. Monetary donations and products/services for the raffles and silent auctions will be gratefully accepted. For information or to make a donation, visit www.walk5kforcaitlin.com, myspace.com/caitlinweese and www.causes.com/walk5kforcaitlin.