Run for the Animals steps off Saturday

Cream of Wheaton may be gone, but one of the festival's signature events keeps running along.

The 28th annual Run for the Animals, a fundraiser for Cosley Zoo, is set for Saturday morning. Both the 5K and 10K races step off at 7:30 a.m. at Main Street and Seminary Avenue.

Proceeds will help pay for capital projects at Cosley, which is a free zoo operated by Wheaton Park District.

"As everything increases price-wise with feed and all that kind of stuff, our job to fundraise becomes a little harder," marketing manager Margie Wilhelmi said.

With its five acres of exhibits, Cosley has hundreds of animals representing dozens of species, including llamas, horses and owls. There's also a gift shop, a picnic area and a recently renovated caboose that's been on the grounds since the early 1980s. It's estimated 100,000 people a year visit the zoo at Gary Avenue and Jewell Road.

In addition to expanding the zoo's chicken and pigs exhibits, park district officials are hoping to complete work on new exhibits for a river otter and bobcat. The run and several other fundraising events will help make those goals a reality.

So far, roughly 1,300 runners have signed on to participate. More than 2,200 are expected to participate on race day.

That includes dozens of children who have registered for the half-mile Zippity Zoo Run, which steps off at 8:45 a.m.

"We had a really good response to it (the race for 6-to-12-year-olds) last year," Wilhelmi said. "It looks like we're getting the same response."

While most of the participants are from Wheaton, the Run for the Animals draws some runners from surrounding communities. The event is certified by the Chicago Area Runners Association.

"People who are serious runners want to know that it's certified," said Wilhelmi, adding that electronic timing is used to determine results.

Spectators can show their support by simply coming out to watch the race through downtown Wheaton. "We get a lot of people out there cheering the runners on," Wilhelmi said.

In addition to the race, a "Paws for Breakfast" event is planned for 7 to 11 a.m. at the Memorial Park building. And a post-race party will be held from 10 a.m. to noon.