Run for Randy turnout tops 700 this year

The Randy Palya Memorial Fund holds an annual fundraising event each summer, the Run for Randy. Randy died at age 9 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

His friends and family started the Run for Randy to celebrate Randy's short life. It has grown over the years into a major fundraiser for area charities. This year was the fourth annual Run for Randy and was attended by more than 700.

In addition to donations to local charities including Home of the Sparrow, the Richmond/Spring Grove Food Pantry, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of McHenry County and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, this year funds were raised for Turning Point.

Turning Point is McHenry County's advocate for victims of domestic violence. In addition to providing the county's only secure shelter for victims of domestic violence, Turning Point provides individual and group counseling for child victims of domestic violence and in 2006, presented 163 educational programs in county schools, reaching 4,657 students. Depending on the age of the students, these presentations covered topics ranging from cliques and bullies to dating violence.

For information on the Run for Randy, visit www.townadvertiser.com/ run4randy. For information on Turning Point, visit www.mchenrycountyturningpoint.org.