Wasco 5K to help raise awareness of rare food allergies

The inaugural 5K run, "Mission Zach Attack," will raise funds for eosinophilic disorders at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 14, at the Wasco Elementary School, 4N782 School St., Wasco. Zach Fincher, a fifth-grade student at the school, has suffered from this disorder since birth.

Although the Campton Hills resident is healthy now, he and his family have decided to raise awareness about the disorder and become advocates for other families who have children with this form of food allergy. The Fincher Family, along with other Chicago area families who also have children with Eosinophilic Esophagitis, co-founded the nonprofit corporation called RFED, Research for Eosinophilic Disorders.

Registration forms are available for the 5K Mission Zach Attack Run, 1-mile youth run and 1-mile walk at the village hall, 40W115 Campton Hills Crossing, Unit B. Only the first 200 preregistered participants will be guaranteed an official Mission Zach Attack T-shirt, or to qualify for the lowest registration rate.

The course starts and finishes at Wasco School, and runs through the Fox Creek subdivision, around the pond, then crosses under the underpass on LaFox Road continuing through the Fox Mill subdivision, past Samuel Clemens Drive, around Willow Lake.

This event is being hosted during Food Allergy Awareness Week and representatives from Children's Memorial Hospital will be present on race day, available to answer questions pertaining to EoE treatment options and food allergies.

For more information, visit rfed.org.