GiGi's 5K...

Most of you probably do not know that we have been “training” for the past 4 weeks. We have been doing this because Ed is going to run in a 5K race in Indianapolis next May. I was doing some research online a few weeks ago looking for races in the area that I could do to help build up endurance. I found a 5K in Hoffman Estates to benefit GiGi’s Playhouse. I didn’t know what GiGi’s Playhouse was, but the race was local and, at that point, that is all that mattered.

When I went to GiGi’s website (www.gigisplayhouse.com), I found out that the playhouse is a Down Syndrome Awareness Center. With Anita’s brother, Chris, having Down Syndrome, it just seemed like fate that I chose THIS race to sign up for. At first, I wasn’t really crazy about the idea of having Anita sign up for it also, but the day also offered a “WALK”, so we decided to walk the 5K instead of run it. We even got Chris registered to walk with us.

So…the event was today (June 8, 2008) in Hoffman Estates. We found out just the other night that the “WALK” was only 1-mile, not the 5K (3.1 miles) we thought it was going to be. That was OK though. We were doing this together. We got out there and walked the mile. If you ask Anita, the two of us crossed the finish line together. Not true, I crossed before her. It didn’t really matter though.

After the walk was done, they had Ronald McDonald doing magic tricks for the kids. They also had the popular “Dash for Downs”. This is a 50 yard dash (race) for the kids 10 years old and under. I couldn’t believe that Jacob wanted to do it, so we signed him up. We signed Emalia up too. It was race time. They did different age groups, which was nice being that Jacob is 3 and there were a lot of older kids running too. Emalia actually took off running too. It was quite fun to get them involved.

We have decided that this is going to be an annual event for us. Anita has plans to get the WHOLE family out there next year by forming “TEAM CHRISTOPHER” and raising more money than any other team out there. The top team this year raised $6,950.00. Please go to www.gigisplayhouse.com to read more about Down Syndrome and see what you can do to help raise awareness.