It's A Great Day To Run In Oct. 7 Matt’s Mile & 5K

Lace up your running shoes, put on a comfortable pair of walking shoes or just come out for party at the second annual Matt's Mile & 5K. The event begins at 5 p.m. tonight Oct. 7 in the Prairie Crossing subdivision of Grayslake where Matt lived.

Here are all the details, as supplied by the 12 Oaks Foundation:

Hundreds of runners will convene again in Grayslake in the quest to beat the one-mile and 5K race times of Matthew Hupp, a 13-year-old athlete who lost his battle with cancer in 2009. All proceeds go to the 12 Oaks Foundation, a nonprofit charity established in Matt’s honor. 

“The most incredible part of Matt’s Mile is the people,” said Diane Walkowiak, a 12 Oaks board member. “At last year’s race, they just kept coming!”

While they anticipated about 350 runners, Walkowiak said the first event drew more than 750 participants and 80 volunteers. She attributes the turnout to the vast community of people who were affected by the Hupp family’s loss, and their desire to help others also in distress.

The 12 Oaks Foundation supports kids in families struggling with a cancer diagnosis or temporary financial hardship. Partnering with community organizations, the foundation underwrites fees for children’s sports and other extracurricular programs.

Julie Hupp, who founded 12 Oaks along with her husband Steve, says the charity works closely with cancer treatment centers and support groups to help children stay active in their communities. 

“Cancer devastates the entire family,” said Hupp. “So much of your time, energy and money go toward fighting the disease; often, other kids in the family can feel left behind.”  

According to Hupp, very few programs are currently available to assist the children or siblings of a cancer patient. The foundation helps these kids keep up their favorite day-to-day activities, and strives to give back some of the attention they may have lost out on during the illness, she says. Families can apply for program assistance online by visiting the 12 Oaks website, www.12oaksfoundation.com.  

Over the past year, 12 Oaks has fulfilled requests from individual families in need and also provided funding to community organizations, such as the B&B Rising Stars basketball program. B&B brings student athletes together from different backgrounds in all areas of Lake County, from Grayslake to Waukegan, to share experiences and develop friendships while playing basketball.

Another 12 Oaks recipient, the Hoopsters basketball program in Lake Zurich offers a free summer basketball camp to grade school kids in families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it. “We were so happy to have the support of 12 Oaks,” said Anne Amick, program organizer for the Hoopsters. “With their assistance, we were able to send 25 more kids to camp for free this year.” 

Matt’s Mile & 5K is one of two major fundraisers 12 Oaks hosts annually, along with Hoops for Hope, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament held in March. Runners and walkers of all ages can participate in the event, held near the shops and along the trails of Prairie Crossing. Winding along on crushed gravel, the 5K course takes participants past horse pastures, prairies, an organic farm, and around Lake Aldo Leopold. 

An awards ceremony follows the race, and the top three male and female runners in each age group will take home medals. Anyone who can beat Matt Hupp’s fastest one-mile race time of 6:13 or his fastest 5K race time of 21:27 will also be automatically entered in a raffle to win gift cards to area restaurants, fitness training packages and other prizes.

Registration will be capped at 750. The 5K registration fee is $35, and the one-mile registration fee is $35 for adults, $25 for kids 13 and under. Every registration includes a free t-shirt and a post-race party with complimentary barbecue from Emil’s Restaurant, pizza from Papa Johns, beer, soft drinks and live music by Betty Soul starting at 6 p.m. Tickets to attend the party only, including food, drinks and entertainment, are $15. 

To register for Matt’s Mile & 5K or make a donation to 12 Oaks, visit www.12oaksfoundation.org.  
 
A nationally-recognized nonprofit 501c(3) charity, 12 Oaks Foundation helps cover fees for sports and other extracurricular programs for children in families experiencing temporary financial hardship. The foundation grants special consideration to families coping with cancer. Partnering with community organizations, 12 Oaks assists grant-in-aid programs and is establishing college scholarships to aid students with exceptional academic and community service records. The charity was founded in 2010 by Steve and Julie Hupp in memory of their son, Matthew Hupp (1995—2009). For more information, visit www.12oaksfoundation.org or call (847) 508-1168.