FS_041218

frankfortstation.com life & arts
the frankfort station | April 12, 2018 | 25
Miles for Music does a spirit and community good
Laurie Fanelli,
Freelance Reporter
A recent UK study revealed
that live music can
actually increase feelings of
well-being, which, in turn,
can lengthen life expectancy.
Add a bit of cardio to that
equation and living a long,
healthy life has never been
easier.
On Sunday, April 8, more
than 150 community concertlovers
gathered at Breidert
Green and Old Plank Road
Trail to participate in Miles
for Music, a benefit 5K/10K
for the music department
at Lincoln-Way East High
School. The LWE Music
Boosters – a parent and community
group – sponsored the
event in a continuing effort to
support student musicians as
they pursue their artistic ambitions.
“We're very vested in the
music education of our students,”
said LWE Music
Boosters secretary and Miles
for Music fundraising chair
Trudy Sturino. “Our booster
organization has structured
the jazz program, which is
here today showcasing their
talents. We also make contributions
to other music groups
including the orchestra and
choral groups. We support all
the extracurricular music activities
as well.”
Along with the new addition
of the 10K option, this
year's event also featured live
music on the course from the
Lincoln-Way East drum line
at the turnaround and tenor
saxophone player Aiden
Dehn positioned near the
start and finish. Members of
the jazz band also provided
pre-race entertainment and
choral singers performed the
“The Star-Spangled Banner”
before the start.
Music Department Chair
Bert Johnson was on hand
for the event as he signed up
for the 5K with his wife Erika
and daughters Ellery, 7, and
Britton, 4.
“Lincoln-Way East's music
program is pretty all encompassing
with choral, instrumental,
band, orchestra, jazz,
vocal jazz, marching band,
pep band and winterguard –
it's huge,” he said. “We probably
have close to 500 kids in
the program and a lot of them
participate in more than one
group. Their families are all
really passionate about music
too so that's great.”
While Dr. Johnson was
focused on the music, Ellery
and Britton were more interested
in the miles.
“I did some stretches earlier
and I did 10 push-ups and
10 sit-ups,” said Ellery Johnson
of her pre-race preparations.
Britton didn't seem worried
about any sisterly competition,
proudly declaring,
“I'm more faster.”
Joliet residents Linda and
Cassandra Salkas also made
the event a family affair as the
mother-daughter duo signed
up for the 10K as a training
run for an upcoming 15K.
“Even if we're running slow,
we like to run the whole track
with no walking breaks,” said
Linda Salkas.
“I haven't ever ran a 10K
race yet so I wanted to try. I
just want to finish it, I'm not
really worried about my time,”
added Cassandra Salkas.
Tinley Park resident Nolan
Enright didn't have to worry
about his time either as he
finished first in the 5K race
along with female first place
finisher – Lincoln-Way East
teacher – Caroline Gerritsen.
Frankfort residents Daryl
Sweeney and Pam Erickson
were the first place finishers
in the inaugural 10K.
Following the success of
the Miles for Music fundraiser
– and the recent Fish
Fry series – the Lincoln-Way
East Music Boosters will be
gearing up for the annual
Jazz Showcase fundraiser on
Friday May 4 and Saturday,
May 5.
More information is available
at www.lwemusicboosters.org.
5K participants start the over-three mile run on Sunday, April 8, at the Old Plank Road Trail during the Miles for Music
event, which benefits Lincoln-Way East High School's music department. Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media
10K winner Daryl Sweeney, of Frankfort, reaches the halfway point of the race.