Fun day planned for Naperville St. Paddy's Day 5K Walk/Run on March 12
Get into the St. Patrick's Day spirit early this year by registering for the annual Naperville St. Paddy's Day 5K Walk/Run. The race, which also features a costume contest, kicks off at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, at Centennial Beach in Naperville and promises a day of fun for the whole family.
The Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise puts together an all-out effort to make this event happen. While race day passes by in a blur, Rotary members have spent the better part of a year preparing for hundreds of runners to cross the finish line.
“Our volunteers promote, organize, generate sponsorships, market, set up the physical run course and after run tent, volunteer the week of the event and on race day to keep runners organized,” said Ryan Siebert, a member of Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise. “It is one of those events that we look at and say, 'I'm not sure we can handle this.' Yet every year we collectively step up and make the event happen.”
Every year, the St. Paddy's Day 5K raises funds to support charitable organizations. Funds raised through the 2022 race will support three local charities — Project HELP DuPage, NAMI DuPage and Metropolitan Family Services. In addition, the Rotary's Foundation uses proceeds from the race throughout the year to help support local, national and international organizations.
The St. Paddy's Day 5K is made possible through a combination of tireless work from Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise members as well as generous donations from corporate sponsors such as Gerald Subaru of Naperville. Siebert said their donation, along with many other organizations' donations, allow the club to host a great event and give back to the community. Sponsorships make it possible to not only host the race, but also raise funds that can be given to other organizations in need.
“It's wonderful to see the community come together to celebrate St. Patrick's Day every year,” said Alec McKean, Vice President of Service for The Gerald Auto Group. “We love sponsoring events like these, which bring people together to have fun and give back to important causes.”
To register for the Naperville St. Paddy's Day 5K, visit: https://saintpaddysday5k.com.
To learn more about Gerald Subaru of Naperville, visit: https://www.geraldsubarunaperville.com.