Colette McGinnis was dedicated to St. Gerald Parish in Oak Lawn in a variety of ways for more than 25 years and was among those helping plan the inaugural St. Gerald Giant Pumpkin 5K Run/Walk set for Saturday.
Now the event is being held in her memory. McGinnis, the religious coordinator of education for youth for the parish, and a former kindergarten teacher at St. Gerald School, died Sept. 19 at age 61 after an illness.
“We are all a mess. No one can believe she is gone,” parish development director Debbie Janicke said. “St. Gerald Parish lost not only a dedicated and loving religious education director, but an advocate for all children, current students and those now grown. Colette joyfully spent her life sharing education and the message of God’s love with all her students. We have all lost a dear friend who made us feel welcome in her life and in her heart.”
“Colette McGinnis lived her faith in Jesus,” St. Gerald Principal Al Theis said. “She’d be the first to admit she wasn’t perfect, but she wanted to place herself in God’s hands. Colette wanted to do everything she could to get others placed in God’s hands as well.”
Annamarie Blaha, the marketing chair for the 5K, had been planning the event with McGinnis, who taught at the school for more than 20 years and oversaw religious education for the past five.
“Colette was a wonderful person who contributed so much to the school and parish,” she said.
The run/walk is set to start at 8 a.m. Saturday at the parish, 9310 S. 55th Court in Oak Lawn.
The race directors are Michael Blaha, who is Annamarie’s husband, and St. Gerald Parish member Terry Finn, both of whom have run in the Chicago Marathon.
The St. Gerald School mascot is the Giants, and since Saturday is Halloween, organizers are calling it the Giant Pumpkin 5K.
The run/walk is open to anyone 10 and older, while a Little Pumpkin Run, set to kick off at 10:30 a.m., will be held for those 10 and under.
The 5k course runs through the surrounding neighborhood, and there will be music throughout the event. Registration is $40 for the run/walk and $15 for the Little Pumpkin Run, either through the development office or online by visiting giantpumpkin5k.com. Race day registration is from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m.
Proceeds will go toward building repairs and the replacement of all of the school building windows.
The race will use computerized timing, and participants will get printed preliminary results and photos from during the race. (Post-race photos will be sold.) There will be water stations, a gear check, a first-aid area, goody bags and a complimentary hot breakfast from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. sponsored by the St. Gerald Holy Name Society.
“This is a family-friendly event that is open to all ages,” Blaha said.
Awards will be given to the top three male and female overall finishers and the top three male and female finishers in various age groups. Participation awards will be given to all participants in the Little Pumpkin Run.
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After the last race, all children in costume, including those who do not run in the Little Pumpkin race, are invited to participate in a Halloween parade around the campus. Adults in costume can participate too. Costume prizes will be awarded.
Kelly White is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.