Registration opens for Marklund’s 14th annual Run, Walk & Roll-Geneva

Get ready to “Run, Walk & Roll” this fall! Marklund’s 14th annual Run, Walk & Roll-Geneva will be held Sunday, Oct. 18, in the South Mill Creek neighborhood of Geneva.

The race will begin with adults and children with different abilities, ambitions and speeds gathered at the starting line and united by a common goal: supporting the care of individuals with developmental disabilities. It will end with a community enjoying a morning of fitness, fun and connection.

Bringing together runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes, this popular inclusive event starts and finishes adjacent to the Marklund Hyde Center campus at 1S450 Wyatt Drive. The wheelchair race will start at 8:15 a.m. followed by the 5K and 1-mile start at 8:30 a.m.

Registration is open at marklund.org/5K.

Whether chasing a personal record, enjoying a leisurely stroll with friends and family, or competing in a racing wheelchair, participants will find a place at this event.

“This year, we’re celebrating 14 years of bringing together friends, families, neighbors, and supporters to make a real difference for Marklund,” said Natalie Sarby, Marklund’s director of community events.

Sarby noted the return of the Wheelchair Race Division, which is for 5K participants who use racing wheelchairs to complete the course safely and competitively.

“What I love most about this event is that everyone belongs. Seeing our wheelchair ‘rollers’ alongside runners and walkers is a powerful reminder of what inclusion looks like, and what makes this day so special,” Sarby said. “Whether you join us as a participant, volunteer, sponsor or donor, every person who shows up and every contribution, big or small, helps make an impact in the lives of those Marklund serves every day.”

The event features:

• A professionally USATF-certified 5K course for runners of all levels with chipped timing

• A family-friendly 1-mile route for walkers and casual participants, as well as for Marklund residents in wheelchairs participating with friends and family.

• Opportunities for individuals using racing wheelchairs to compete and participate.

• A festive atmosphere with community support and encouragement throughout the course, and the popular Party in the Park following the run/walk.

Awards and recognition will be presented in select categories, and all participants will be celebrated for their involvement and support.

Proceeds from the event will help support Marklund’s mission of making everyday life possible for individuals with profound disabilities, through programs and services offered at its several locations in Geneva, Bloomingdale and Elgin.

Registration is now open. Community members, families, businesses and local organizations are encouraged to participate, volunteer or sponsor the event.

Early bird pricing is available until Oct. 1: 5K plus sweatshirt, $50; 5K, $40; 1-Mile plus sweatshirt, $40; 1-Mile, $30; or sweatshirt only, $25.

For registration information, sponsorship opportunities or additional event details, visit marklund.org/5K.

One course. One community. Endless reasons to participate.