Event Spotlight: Naperville Half Marathon & 5k

Event Spotlight- Naperville Half Marathon & 5k Charity Run

by: Barb Martin

Hi GiGi’s Playhouse Charity Runners!
My name is Barbara Martin, and I am the Charity Coordinator for the Naperville Half Marathon Race and 5K. I have lived in Naperville for 14 with my family. I have been a pre-school teacher for the last 21 years. I have worked as the charity coordinator since the start of the race in 2013. Our charity program has been a wonderful way for the race directors to provide an opportunity for runners to give back to the community. Charity runners have raised over 3 million dollars since the race began in 2013 with all the fundraising dollars going directly to the charity.

Many ask “Why run for a charity?”

Running for a charity provides you with an additional purpose! It can add another level of effort to the challenge.
It is a great motivation to train.
You may have personal reasons to support a particular charity.
You will have a large sense of camaraderie amongst your other charity runners, which is also great for training.
Helping to raise awareness for your charity and their cause
It is a memorable experience!

Our race provides special perks for charity runners on race day. This year will be quite different since the race is virtual, but think how exciting it will be when you come back to run next year and experience the charity hero tent and all the extras that the tent has to offer! This year’s virtual race is one that you will run or walk at whatever location and time suits you best between October 1-31. For more information regarding this please go to our web site at runnaperville.com. You may register for the race until Saturday October 17. If you want to be guaranteed an ordered race shirt, you must register by September 1. You must register through the Events.com site. A GiGi’s employee will give you the site and the code for you to register.

We hope to see you and packet pick -up (which is drive-by pick-up this year). We cannot wait to hear all your creative ways that you are running your race!

You can register for the run at: https://gigisplayhouse.org/foxvalley/naperville-charity-marathon

Fundraise/Donate for GiGi’s Playhouse Fox Valley: https://support.gigisplayhouse.org/fox-valley-marathon-2020