It’s not too late to sign up for the Run to Read, hosted by School District 54 and the Campanelli YMCA, on Sunday, Sept. 25. Our goal is to collect 1,000 children’s books for every classroom in District 54. Online registration is avilable through 5 p.m. Saturday at http://sd54.org/runtoread.

Anyone who registered by Sept. 21 can also pick up their packets Thursday, Friday or Saturday (until 5 p.m.) at Dick Pond Athletics, 927 S. Roselle Road in Schaumburg.

The event begins at 8 a.m. with a 100-yard dash for children in first grade and younger; followed by a 400-yard dash for children in sixth grade and younger. Both races take place at Dirksen School, 116 W. Beech Drive in Schaumburg.

The day of races also includes a 5K race at 8:30 a.m. and a family fun walk at 8:45 a.m.

The top male and female winners will each receive a $75 gift card to Dick Pond Athletics. Medals will be awareded to the top age group winners in the 5K. An awards ceremony will take place at about 9:40 a.m. All children participating in the 100- and 400-yard dashes will also receive a medal.

Registration continues until 8 a.m. on the morning of the event. Registration and packet pick-up will begin at 7 a.m. inside school gym.

All individuals participating in any run or walk must register. The cost to participate is $10 for junior high school age and younger, $20 for high school students and adults age 60 and older, and $30 for adults ages 19 to 59.

No bicycles, skates, scooters or pets are allowed on the courses. Strollers are allowed on the walk only.

Questions? Email terrimchugh@sd54.org.

School District 54 would like to thank the many sponsors, donors, volunteers and participants that made the Run to Read 2010 a huge success. 

The event – held Sept. 26 at Dirksen School in Schaumburg – raised more than $8,000 to support literacy in School District 54. Our goal is to collect 1,000 children’s books for every classroom in District 54. Many individuals brought books to the race to support our cause. About 525 people turned out to participate in the 5K race, the 1-mile family fun walk or the 100- and 400-yard dashes for children. Another 80 people volunteered to work at the event and countless others were there to cheer on a family member or friend.

District 54 thanks the Campanelli YMCA – the title sponsor of the event this year. We also send our sincere appreciation to Premier Credit Union, Dick Pond Athletics, Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Schaumburg, Mobile Cellutions (a Verizon wireless authorized retailer), Hemisphere Educational Travel and Tru Rehab and Wellness.

Several businesses also made donations and deserve our thanks:  Baker’s Breakfast Cookies, Road ID, Sam’s Club, Orbit Skate Center, Putting Edge, Math Wizards, Mars, Biore, Wheaties, the Schaumburg Township District Library, Applebee’s, Caribou Coffee, Cassidy Tire & Service, the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Wolves, Gameworks, the Shedd Aquarium and Spin Doctors.

A special thank you to the Dirksen Boy Scouts who passed out information about the event to every home on our route; and to the Keller Cross Country teams and coaches who filled all the goody bags.

Next year’s Run to Read will be held on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, at Dirksen School. Online registration is already available at http://sd54.org/runtoread. If you are interested in attending or sponsoring the event, visit the website or contact Terri McHugh at (847) 357-5028 or TerriMcHugh@sd54.org.

Race Results can be found at http://sd54.org/runtoread

School District 54 and the Campanelli YMCA are hosting a day of races on Sunday, Sept. 26, to support literacy in School District 54. Our goal is to collect 1,000 children’s books for every classroom in District 54.

The event begins at 8 a.m. with a 100-yard dash for children in first grade and younger; followed by a 400-yard dash for children in sixth grade and younger. Both races take place at Dirksen School, 116 W. Beech Drive in Schaumburg.

The day of races also includes a 5K race at 8:30 a.m. and a family fun walk at 8:45 a.m. Awards will be presented to the top male and female winner and the top age group winners in the 5K. An awards ceremony will take place at about 9:40 a.m. All children participating in the 100- and 400-yard dashes will also receive a medal.

All individuals participating in any run or walk must register in advance. The early-bird discounted cost to participate is $5 for junior high school age and younger, $15 for high school students and adults age 60 and older, and $25 for adults ages 19 to 59. All those prices rise by $5 after Sept. 11 ($10 for junior high school age and younger, $20 for high school students and adults age 60 and older, and $30 for adults ages 19 to 59).

Registration continues until 8 a.m. on the morning of the event. Registration and packet pick-up will begin at 7 a.m. inside school gym. Anyone who registers by Sept. 21 can also pick up their packets at Dick Pond Athletics in Schaumburg on Sept. 23-25.

No bicycles, skates, scooters or pets are allowed on the courses. Strollers are allowed on the walk only.

While the YMCA is the title sponsor of the event, the race is also looking for additional sponsors. Donations are also being accepted for both the goody bags and post-race raffle prizes.

If you are interested in attending or sponsoring the event, visit sd54.org/runtoread (online registration is available at this link). You may also contact Terri McHugh at (847) 357-5028 or terrimchugh@sd54.org.