The annual March4Meg 5K Run/Walk is growing in size and vision, founder Nancy Donovan said.
Donovan, mother of Meg Moonan, a young wife and mother of four who lost her 19-month battle with melanoma in March 2012, said this is “a special year” for the third annual event.
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“Our numbers are increasing and they’re increasing because we have the addition of three families that have lost a loved one to melanoma,” Donovan said.
Donovan said the families of Lucy Barry, Susie Griffin and Tom Hopkins have formed teams of runners, a feature added this year to include up to 99 participants per team.
“This year is also exciting because we have a new president, Jim Barry,” Donovan said. “Jim lost his wife to melanoma about 14 months ago, so this has helped their family during the grieving process. Jim is a very knowledgeable acting president. … so it’s increased the strength of our board.”
The March4Meg 5K Run/Walk is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. March 28 at Klein Park, at 97th Street and Homan Avenue in Evergreen Park. Day-of registration for individuals and families is from 7 to 8:45 a.m. at the Evergreen Park Recreation Department, 3450 W. 97th St.
Team registration is online only. The deadline for team registration is midnight Sunday.
Donovan said the nonprofit raised about $90,000 in the first two years, with proceeds initially earmarked for the Meg Moonan Endowment Center at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Donovan said there will be additional beneficiaries of the proceeds going forward.
“We changed our mission statement somewhat in so far as some of the money can go toward families that are experiencing melanoma and having financial problems,” Donovan said.
She said funds also will be used to educate and raise awareness about melanoma.
Donovan, who stepped down as the organization’s board president when Barry came on board, plans to increase her role in the surrounding communities to “get the word out” at schools, health fairs and community events, among other venues.
“Every chance I get, I do it,” Donovan said. “Now we’re trying to do the high schools and do the dangers of tanning. I’m working on the program for that … because melanoma’s increasing drastically (in young people).”
People who first use a tanning bed before age 35 increase their risk for melanoma by 75 percent, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation website.
“It’s urgent,” Donovan said. “They need to know this.”
Meanwhile, in something of a reversal of fortune, the Special Olympic Athletes of Illinois at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences on Thursday stepped off in their own walk to raise funds for March4Meg, according to a press release from March4Meg.
Ninety students raised more than $450 in support of the upcoming event and in support of their own Ag School teacher, Mary Pat (Donovan) McGeehan, who is Meg’s sister and a board member with March4Meg, the release said.
The Special Olympic student-athletes raised $300, while parents provided the remaining push.
Before the walk, students participated in an instructional session on how to choose the appropriate clothing for exposure to the sun and technique for applying sunscreen to exposed skin areas, the release said.
The walk covered the entire grounds of the Ag School campus and Mount Greenwood Park and lasted more than an hour.
It was also announced that March4Meg will team with oncology surgeon Dr. Adam Riker, who will run the 5K to promote a Free Skin Cancer Screening set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 1 in Klein Park, the release said.
Ginger Brashinger is a freelance reporter.
If you go …
What: March4Meg 5K Run/Walk to fund research, raise awareness and benefit families affected by melanoma
When: 5K begins at 9 a.m. March 28. Registration begins at 7 a.m.
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Where: Klein Park, 97th Street and Homan Avenue, Evergreen Park; registration at Evergreen Park Recreation Department, 3450 W. 97th St.
Etc.: Early registration is $30 per individual, $25 for family/team registration and $65 for a family of five. Online team registration closes at midnight March 22.
More information: Visit http://www.march4meg.com.