First suburban Race for Cure to run through Lombard

Carol Baker will miss seeing masses of people in pink boarding the earliest train to downtown Chicago for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

But she's excited to participate in the foundation's first suburban race to raise money for breast cancer research. The race begins at 8:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, at Yorktown Center in Lombard.

"I'm looking forward this year to actually being at the survivor tent," said Baker, 57, of West Chicago.

The first suburban Race for the Cure gives participants like Baker a way to contribute to the fight against breast cancer while staying close to home.

"Downtown races are great, but I think suburban races are wonderful because we do offer a lot of the amenities that downtown races can't offer, like the free parking and easy access," said Lindsey Burke, marketing manager for Yorktown Center.

Adding a suburban location gives the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation's Chicago-area affiliate a way to recruit more participants.

"Our city race has held steady with 10,000 participants for three years in a row now, so that told us that in order to continue to increase participation, we needed to look in different areas," said Kathi Grummel, development director for the foundation.

Race organizers chose DuPage County because it has the highest incidence of breast cancer in the five-county area served by the foundation's Chicago chapter, which also includes Cook, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties. An average of 635 breast cancer cases are diagnosed each year in DuPage County, according to Komen foundation research.

"We know we need to raise awareness about the disease and quality screening in that area," Grummel said.

A week before the race, about 1,800 people had registered online as participants for the Lombard location, Grummel said. Those interested in running can register beginning at 6:30 a.m. on race day.

The event includes runs and walks of 10K, 5K and one mile, and will use parts of Butterfield and Meyers roads, Highland Avenue and 22nd Street as well as residential streets in Lombard.

Lombard police, along with six other agencies and alumni of Lombard's Citizen Police Academy, will monitor traffic around the route and allow cars through when there is a gap in racers, Lt. Scott Watkins said.

"We really don't anticipate that there's going to be any significant traffic problems," Watkins said.

Baker, who is walking the 5K with a 35-member team from Ball Horticultural Company in West Chicago, said she hopes her team enjoys the closer location of the suburban Race for the Cure.

"I'd like to see our group enjoy it so much that they'll talk about it and get even more people to participate next year," she said.

Grummel said the race aims to create a celebratory atmosphere that all participants - especially breast cancer survivors like Baker - can enjoy.

"These races are really a time for us to celebrate survivorship," Grummel said. "It's really important we make it very upbeat. We have one moment of silence, but other than that, it's exciting and fun."

<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p>

<p class="News"><b>What:</b> First suburban location of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure</p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> Survivor parade at 7:45 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26; 10K begins at 8:15 a.m.; 5K and mile at 8:30 a.m.; registration opens at 6:30 a.m. </p>

<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Yorktown Center, Highland Avenue and Butterfield Road, Lombard</p>

<p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> $40 for 5K or 1-mile walk; $45 for 5K or 10K run; $25 for ages 17 and younger</p>

<p class="News"><b>Details:</b> Race-day registration and packet pickup is inside the mall</p>

<p class="News"><b>Info:</b> <a href="http://komenchicago.org" target="new">komenchicago.org</a> or (773) 444-0061</p>