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the Mokena Messenger | June 15, 2017 | 5
Summertime Stride supports veterans in seventh year
Megann Horstead
Freelance Reporter
Runners found their stride
June 3 while participating
in the Mokena Community
Park District’s seventh annual
Summertime Strike 5K
and Kids Dash.
This year’s race benefited
the Disabled Patriot Fund, an
Orland Park-based organization
supporting the needs of
military veterans who fought
in the War on Terror.
“It’s just a way to let
people know that we appreciate
[veterans], and it’s
just a good thing to get the
community together,” said
Rebecca Phetteplace, recreation
supervisor of special
events and trips for the Mokena
Community Park District.
Phetteplace said people
could expect a lot of fun at
the race this year.
Highlights from the Summertime
Stride consisted of a
post-race awards ceremony,
pre-race warmups, a Zumba
demonstration for spectators
and raffle drawings.
“It’s close to home, it’s
very well-organized, very
friendly, loving and a fundraiser
for a good cause,”
Paul Ciesiun, of Frankfort,
said as he was preparing to
hit the course with his wife.
Attending the race was not
a first for the Ciesiuns.
“[In] 2013, we both did
it,” Ciesiun said.
He said it is important for
people to show continued
support for veterans in the
community.
“There’s room for improvement,”
he said. “I
served from ’76 to ’80 in
the army as an electrician.
For those that have been
wounded — whether psychologically
or physically
— I think [they] need the
help. … Downtown Chicago
and around the country, you
Carli Mendoza, 8, finished with a time of 29 minutes and 43
seconds to win the female ages 1-9 bracket.
see people that are veterans
that [are experiencing] tough
times, unable to cope and
get themselves up. There is
a lot being done. You can’t
help everybody, because it
does take [focus]. I think if
you have the right focus, you
can find your way, but some
don’t have that focus.”
Paul added that it is wonderful
to see the park district
doing its part to help support
the cause locally.
The Summertime Stride
typically sees between 250
and 300 participants. This
time around, 195 people preregistered
for the race, and
the park district allowed for
additional registrations the
day of the event.
“When I look at the registrants
from the past years,
it’s a lot of the same people,”
Phetteplace said. “It’s bringing
back people that keep
coming and enjoying it.
“You’ll see more younger
kids joining each year to the
actual 5K, not even just the
kids dash. We had a 7-yearold
doing the 5K this year.
They could be walking, but
you’ll see that the smaller
age groups are growing
within the 5K.”
Summertime Stride 5K winner Jake Christiansen, of Oak Lawn, works his way to the finish
line in the Mokena Community Park District’s annual fundraiser, this time benefiting the
Disabled Patriot Fund. Photos by Bob Klein/22nd Century Media
Adriana Rekas (left) and Michelle Newman run the Summertime Stride 5K together.
Phetteplace credits the
event’s appeal to the park
district’s effort to support local
charities.
“It’s not something where
they’re never going to see
the money in their community,”
she said. “I think that
that helps a lot.”
Pam Shanahan, of Mokena,
said she decided to
drop in because the race is
close by and it is important
to stay active. This year was
Shanahan’s first time participating
in the Summertime
Stride.
Shanahan said she recognized
the value placed in
supporting the Disabled Patriot
Fund by participating in
this year’s race, and she said
it is clear that not enough is
done to help veterans.
“Events like this can raise
awareness, which is always
good,” she said.
Shanahan added that the
race does a nice job of bringing
the community together.
“I like that they have kids
dash, so it kind of incorporates
the kids a little bit more
than some of the other 5Ks
in the area,” she said.
Leading up to the race’s
start time at 8:30 a.m., participants
enjoyed the singing
of the “Star Spangled
Banner” and paused for a
moment of silence to honor
veterans for their service.
Jake Christiansen, of Oak
Lawn, reached the finish line
as the first person to complete
the 5K this year.
“This course is nice,” he
said. “There’s a couple hills,
to keep it honest. But otherwise,
it’s mostly flat, so it’s a
good course.”
Running the 5K was not a
first for Christiansen.
“It’s a good race, and the
fact that it supports a good
cause is a nice bonus,”
Christiansen said.
Medals were awarded to
the Top 3 male and female
participants in each age
group.