Monday's Featured 5k of the Week - RUN FOR KELLI JOY

RUN FOR KELLI JOY
3 mile cross-country course
Lyons Township High School

Benefiting : Kelli Joy O'Laughlin Memorial Fund

Technically not a "5k" this is a 3-mile race, a standard High School Cross Country distance.  The race is in memory of Kelli Joy O'Laughlin who was murdered by an intruder in her house when she happened to return home from school.  The murderer was finally convicted (3 years later) and was sentenced to 160 years in prison.

The Memorial Fund was set up to keep Kelli's memory alive by providing future education opportunities for other young people.  The Run For Kelli Joy is a multifaceted fundraising event which combines a 3 mile run, a 1 mile walk, a 50 yard dash for kids, two post-race raffles, a DJ, and a "Party with the Princess" event for the kids.

This year's event took place at Lyons Township High School, the site of Kelli's last Cross Country Meet.  The pre-and-post race activities were inside the Fieldhouse.  The course is a 3-times-around 100% off-road course on the LTHS property - the walk is 4 times around the football field - and the 50 yard dash is on the football field.  The raffles consisted of a general raffle of several different prizes - and a premium raffle which had premium items available, such as signed Blackhawks Jerseys and tickets to United Center Suites for Blackhawks games.

The Memorial Fund uses the money to provide college scholarships, administer a Holiday gift giving program at the Maryville Academy, and donations to the Camp Tecumseh program - a camp for young adults.

An excellent event, a chance to run a "real cross-country" race, for those of us who were not in High School Cross Country, a chance to win some cool prizes and enjoy a fun post-race party, and, most importantly, the opportunity to help further a wonderful charity!