Chasing Our Dreams

What is it?

The GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge is a 5k fun run, 1-mile walk, or other fitness format — that brings people together to raise awareness, acknowledge, and support the challenges in the Down syndrome community.

Taking place at all our Playhouse locations across the country, the GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge is GiGi’s Playhouse largest peer-to-peer fundraiser and a fun and inclusive fitness event that the entire community can attend!

When is it?

From March 15th – June 29th, 55+ GiGi’s Playhouse locations will host their own GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge events in their communities.

Don’t have a Playhouse near you? No problem! Our Virtual Playhouse hosts its own Virtual GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge from May 1st to May 30th!

Why should I participate?

The money we raise from our GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge events directly funds the 340,000 hours of FREE educational, therapeutic, and career development programming GiGi’s Playhouse provides to our participants and families a year.

Beyond this, our GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge events give entire communities the opportunity to come together with the Down syndrome community to embrace differences, foster inclusivity, and create a more ACCEPTING world!

Register here!!

WE NEED YOU!!!!

INDIVIDUAL WALKERS OR FUNDRAISING TEAMS!

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2026 @ 8:00am -11am

Outdoor walk/run rain or shine along the ridge of the LAKE FRONT to support Brain Tumor/Cancer Patients, Scholarships & Research

(Enter off East 39th Street Oakwood Ave. to enter the Parking Lot)

EVENT TENTATIVE AGENDA:

6:30 am - 7:30 am Vendor Set up

7:30 am - 8:00am Vendor Booths & Registration opens

8:15 am Presentations

8:30 am Walk Start

10:30 am Entertainment

10:45 am Honor/Memory Ceremony

*Event typically concludes ~11:30am/12pm

Vendors open throughout the event

$40 For Chipped Timed Run/Walk, T-shirt & Finisher Medals

Placement Medals & Team Prizes

Price Increase April 1st $45, June 1st $50, ONSITE REGISTRATION $55

T-shirt sizes guaranteed until June 1, 2026

Additional Event Features:

Health & Business Vendors

Family Friendly Music & Entertainment

Balloon Release

Register early to qualify for Special Raffle Prizes*

*1st Tier Prize Qualifier if registered by April 1st Then 2nd Tier Prize Qualifier if Registered by May 31st

5K TEAM PRIZES - Our teams successfully raise thousands of dollars towards financial assistance, research & grants annually. Visit www.maryesmithfoundation.org to view & donate directly to one of our 2026 Gray Matters Fundraising Teams

TOP FUNDRAISING TEAM AWARD Announced @ the event

LARGEST MEMBER TEAM AWARD Announced @ the event

A portion of proceeds will benefit both National Brain Tumor Society & MESF Scholars

To SPONSOR or DONATE as a BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION or VOLUNTEER Visit the link Sponsors/Vendors/Donors/Volunteers

If you want more information on starting a FUNDRAISING TEAM, please Email us at [email protected]

WE NEED YOU to participate! Run or walk a 5K to support the fight against brain tumors! YOUR GRAY MATTERS so ACT TODAY!

The Homewood Flossmoor Community Running Club challenges all Chicagoland Clubs to compete in the 4th annual South-Southwest Suburban Club Challenge.

Area clubs can form 3 person teams of all males, all females, or co-ed- both for high school, open, and masters. The times of the three finishers will be added up to determine the Champions in each division.

Unattached runners are welcome.

Following the race participants can receive one free appetizer at our awards ceremony at Oliver's in Oak Forest starting at 8:00 PM.

Email bob@ilpreptoptiming to get your club registered and receive a $15 discount for members of your club.

This Wednesday evening race kicks off at 7:00 PM and runs through the trails of Yankee Woods.

The Start and Finish of the race is at Yankee Woods, approximately 166th & Central Ave. in Tinley Park.

Top three overall individuals will receive awards, as well as the top three in each of the following age groups:

14 & Under

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70 & Older

Kids are welcome to join! Bring the whole family!

There will be a race lead on bike for runners & walkers.

We will provide beverages before the race and also at the water station

at the halfway point for participants. We will provide orange paper cups for water and purple paper cups for sports drinks.

We will also provide a complimentary gear check for all participants.

There will be distance markers at every half mile of the race to indicate where you are.

We will give a quick announcement then a warmup stretches starting at 8:30am.

We will have packet pick Thursday 9/18 4pm - 7pm & Friday 9am - 12pm

Pick up location is 13307 Olde Western Ave St, Blue Island, IL 60406.

If you can not make this day, you may pick up your packet the day of the event at 8am.

After the race is completed, we will announce awards and prizes.

Race Rules:

NO bikes, skates or scooters.

Strollers are permitted but will start with the walkers, not runners.

Wheelchairs are also permitted and will begin with the walkers.

This race will be a chip-timed event.

We will also display times on our race website the following day, be sure to check out your time!

Our timing company will be using RFID Bib Chips which will need to be worn on the front of your torso.

Awards:

First, second & third placed by a male will receive an award.

First, second & third placed by a female will receive an award.

Overall winner will receive a prize.

Parking instructions for 5K event

VOLUNTEERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST YOU

THE PARKING FOR OUR 5K EVENT WILL ONCE AGAIN BE UNDER THE WESTERN AVE BRIDGE OFF BROADWAY RD BETWEEN OLDE WESTERN AND REXFORD DR. WHEN APROACHING FROM ETHER OLDE WESTERN FROM THE WEST OR FROM ASHALND AVE FROM THE EAST PLEASE PROCEED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BRIDGE WHERE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE ON HAND TO DIRECT YOU IN PARKING. BE ADVISED THAT THERE MAY BE SOME PARKING ON SIDE STREETS SURRINDING THE GUILDHAUS BUT PLEASE PAY ATTION TO ANY RESCRICTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE. PLEASE BE SAFE AND COURTIOUS LET US HELP YOU.

Refund Policy:

There will no refunds for this event.

If this event is canceled, you will receive an email notification with information to reschedule.

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to reach out to Angela, event coordinator by email or phone

[email protected] or 708-385-3228 ext. 102.

What?

Grab your family and friends and Lets get active and Raise Sickle Cell Awareness One-Mile at a Time!

The Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois (SCDAI) invites you, your family & friends to join us in raising awareness and funding for individuals in Illinois dealing with the daily struggles of Sickle Cell Disease! Register to receive your 2026 event t-shirt. We will begin registration and FUNdraising now through SEPTEMBER which is Sickle Cell Awareness month. Please help us by getting the word out and gearing up to either walk, jog or run in support of individuals living with Sickle Cell Disease while honoring individuals who have passed away from the Disease!

Why?

Sickle Cell Disease affects more than 100,000 Americans of all different racial and ethnic backgrounds, including, Africans, Arabians, Israelis, Greeks, Italians, Hispanics, and Turks. Chances are that many of us know someone who has sickle cell disease, sickle cell trait, or an abnormal hemoglobin trait.

Sickle Cell disease (anemia) is diagnosed at birth and caused by genetically inheriting two sickle genes, one from each parent. Individuals with Sickle Cell disease have sickle hemoglobin that makes the red blood cells rigid and causes some red blood cells to take on a sickle shape. Some symptoms associated with Sickle Cell disease are: anemia, infections, severe pain episodes, strokes, growth and puberty delay, and acute chest syndrome.

The average lifespan for persons with sickle disease isn’t known, but it has improved due to increased treatment therapies. Bone marrow transplants are a cure for Sickle Cell Anemia, but every individual with Sickle Cell Anemia is not a candidate for this procedure.

Who?

For 55 years, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois has worked in the community to improve the quality of life for individuals with sickle cell disease and their families. Our Annual 1K/5K Walk, Jog or Run for a Cure is our largest fundraising event of the year. Typically we have families and supporters from across the State of Illinois join us. Now is the time to commit to your fitness goals while raising money for a worthwhile charitable, 501c3 organization. 100% of the proceeds are from all our events are tax-deductible and will go directly to fund programs that provide direct support services to individuals with sickle cell, as well as awareness, education, and advocacy for the community.

When?

Sickle Cell Awareness Month (September)!

Saturday September 19th, 2026

1. Register to participate individually or as a team and set your teams fundraising goal to raise between now-September 30, 2026.

2. Join us on Saturday September 19th, 2026 to participate, have fun and receive your t-shirt/giveaways. Check-In begins at 9AM CST and the Race begins at 10AM CST.

3. Put on your event t-shirt, begin walking, running or jogging and PLEASE take some photos to share with us (Please note if you share your photos with us we will be sharing them via social media and email to show everyone how we all came together in Illinois for our families with Sickle Cell Disease to raise awareness, funding, and support!) You can share photos with us by:

• Emailing them to [email protected]

• Posting and tagging your photos to the SCDAI Facebook (@scdaillinois), Instagram (scdai), twitter (@scdaillinois) page using the hashtag #SCDAIWalkJogBike4ACure2026

Where

Hayes (Francis) Park 2936 W. 85th St. Chicago, IL 60652

What is the cost?

$40 donation per individual ages 5 and over (includes event t-shirt)