20th Lew Blond run draws more than 400 participants
Runners of all ages - from 7-year-old Kavi Singal of Northbrook to 76-year-old Peter Tyor of Winnetka - competed Saturday at the 20th anniversary Lew Blond Memorial 5K on a course near Wescott School in Northbrook.
Overall more than 400 people participated in the 5K race or in the mile walk/run that followed, either as runners or volunteers.
The Lew Blond Memorial 5K Run/Walk, 1 Mile Run is named after the late Maple School applied technology teacher Lew Blond, who died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive disease of the nervous system also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in February 2000.
The majority of the event's proceeds over the past 19 years have been donated to the Les Turner ALS Foundation to help support research efforts, and to the Stuart Rosen Transportation Fund.
Funds also have been used to help support scholarships at Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South high schools as well as for special projects at Northbrook/Glenview School District 30.
Crossing the finish line first in a field of 73 women in the competitive 5K, Northbrook's Kerry Moore ran the distance in 23 minutes, 14 seconds. Overall, age group winners Laura Mikuta of Northfield and Tricia Brown of Glenview ran the second- and third-best times, respectively.
Fellow competitors included Sarah Stanford of Go Green Northbrook and Tracy Katz Muhl, secretary of the Cook County Democratic Party.
Northbrook's Mark Dolgin won the men's 5K race with a time of 17:36. Fellow age-group winners Steven Clark, also of Northbrook, and Chicagoan Sam Hurwitz ran the next-fastest times. Ninety-seven male runners competed in the race.
The Lew Blond 5K is certified by both the Chicago Area Runners Association and United States Track and Field.
After it was postponed in 2020 due to complications from the COVID-19 pandemic, the event's executive committee decided to run a second race in 2021-22, to be held at Wescott School on May 21, 2022. Those who registered for Saturday's event will receive a coupon for 40% off registration fees for the May 21 run. For sponsorship opportunities and more information, reach Maple School Principal Sam Kurtz at skurtz@district30.org.