Run to raise awareness of disability needs

DayOneNetwork's first "Run for DayOne" will be held Sept. 7 at Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles. With additional sponsorship by Meade Electric and AT&T Illinois, the event has been planned with families in mind.

There will be a 5K run for individual runners, and a family walk that is less than a mile long and accessible for everyone. The 5K run will begin at 8 a.m. and the family walk will begin at 9 a.m.

Joining the attendees will be 95.9 FM "The River" radio station, and local vendors will be providing simple refreshments and beverages after the race at the pavilion. Entry fees, which include one T-shirt, are $20 per runner, and $20 per family of walkers. Additional T-shirts are available for $6 each.

The theme of this year's "Run for DayOne" is "Mobility Awareness." Children and adults with a disability and their families have special needs when it comes to mobility. These needs begin with home, and extend all the way to international travel.

Joining them to help raise awareness about the needs of people with disabilities is Jacob Honeyman, who is this year's "Run Starter." Jacob's father, Hal Honeyman, is the owner of The Bike Rack in St. Charles. Twelve years ago, he founded Project Mobility to put a positive spin on wheelchairs and adaptive bikes. The interest and desire to help others find the right equipment for mobility and recreation developed when Hal's own son, Jacob was born prematurely with cerebral palsy. Jacob, a triplet, was able to join his siblings ride bikes with adaptations his father made to his bicycle.

"I am a fairly compassionate man," says Honeyman, "but you don't really know until you experience it yourself."

Join them on Sept. 7 to help others faced with special challenges. To register for the race and for volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit the Events page at www.dayonenetwork.org or call Terry Kammes at (630) 879-2277, ext. 114.

Since 1989, DayOneNetwork Inc. has been providing service coordination and advocacy for persons with developmental disabilities and/or delays in Kane and Kendall counties, and Hanover Township of Cook County. In fiscal year 2007, DayOne served 2,932 children and adults.

DayOneNetwork's first "Run for DayOne" is made possible by the generous support of the presenting sponsor, North Central Illinois Labor Council. As an affiliated member of Illinois AFL-CIO, the North Central Illinois Labor Council is proud of the work they do everyday and for the strong work ethic they exemplify.