Charity run to buy toys for hospital

The littlest cancer patients at Central DuPage Hospital will be getting some much-needed distraction from their sicknesses thanks to a charity run organized this week.

Tim Traver, a 25-year-old Wheaton native, and several family members and friends will be hosting the Dorothy's Family 2-mile run/walk Sunday morning at Benedictine University in Lisle.

The charity run will be used to pay for toys for the Winfield hospital's pediatrics oncology unit to help patients adjust to their care.

The hospital holds special significance for Traver.

His mother, Dorothy, spent years at Central DuPage receiving treatments for her own cancer battle with uterine sarcoma. She died at the hospital in 2003.

"I figured this is a place I could step in and do some good," Traver said. "We just wanted to get the kids some things that can get their minds off their therapy for a few hours."

Traver helped begin a fledgling charity group called "Dorothy's Family," which has raised roughly $6,500 since May for the pediatrics unit through several small fundraisers.

Sunday's run is expected to attract more than 100 runners. Many of the participants were personally contacted through Traver or family friends.

The run begins at 9 a.m. For details or to register, visit www.dorothysfamily.org or call Traver at (312) 363-8875.

If you go

What: Dorothy's Family 2-mile run/walk

Benefits: Central DuPage Hospital's pediatric oncology ward

When: 9 a.m. Sunday

Where: Benedictine University, 5700 College Road, Lisle

Cost: $15 in advance, $20 on day of race for individual runners; $100 for families

Details: (312) 363-8875 or www.dorothysfamily.org